After the money was thrown down, the equipment quickly settled in the hospital, and surgeon Maud soon flew over.

Upon meeting, he enthusiastically extended both arms toward Fu Changrong.

Fu Changrong accepted well and hugged him, which delighted Maud, who started chattering nonstop.

In the past, Fu Tinghan never hugged him, at most willing to extend a hand.

Fu Changrong understood and smiled at him in a friendly manner, not concealing his differences from the original body.

During this period, Fu Changrong had already “recalled” English and German with the help of many colleagues. Although he was still somewhat halting when speaking, he had no problem listening.

Hearing that research on time machines and parallel spaces was currently led by foreign countries, he had to learn foreign languages.

The original body was most fluent in English and German, so he also started with these two languages.

With some memories, plus Fu Changrong being truly clever—he probably inherited his grandfather and father’s talent for languages—these strange languages sounded familiar after hearing them once, he could remember most after the second time, and fully integrate them by the third.

And studying in this world was truly convenient. With headphones and computers, even without going to classrooms, he could learn. He could even listen with headphones while walking.

He was like a dried-up sponge absorbing this world’s knowledge.

Zhao Hezhen was no less dedicated. She’d resigned from the school but hadn’t left it, instead changing from teacher to student, spending every day either immersed in the library or auditing classes.

Because she had been a school teacher and graduated from this school, teachers were very tolerant of her, and the school was willing to provide conveniences.

Hearing she wanted to re-plan her career and learn more knowledge, everyone was willing to help.

Classes? Attend freely. Library books? Read freely.

She expended great effort to adapt to being blind, not only learning knowledge through braille but also learning to use computers and phones to play audio for learning.

This was taught by a colleague: “Teacher Zhao, you always used to study like this. You used to post lessons on apps to earn extra money—why haven’t you uploaded lessons recently?”

Although Zhao Hezhen had most of Zhao Hanzhang’s memories, they weren’t that detailed. She didn’t know many things.

Maud wasn’t meeting Fu Tinghan for the first time, but it was his first time meeting Zhao Hanzhang. Upon meeting, he looked her up and down, exaggeratedly exclaiming “Wow!” before saying in broken Chinese: “What a beautiful lady—no wonder Fu could never forget her.”

Fu Changrong didn’t blush at all—after all, they weren’t talking about him.

Zhao Hezhen also accepted it well—after all, they weren’t talking about her either.

Neither showed any change in expression, leaving Maud extremely curious. He privately asked Shen Yan: “Are they together or not? Don’t you Chinese people tend to be reserved and restrained? Not blushing is one thing, but there’s not even a hint of joy or worry on their faces.”

Shen Yan spread his hands: “You ask me, I ask who? Ever since Tinghan’s accident and memory loss, the two of them have been weird.”

Zhao Hezhen’s surgery went very smoothly and she recovered well. When she rested enough and the bandages on her head were removed for the first time, opening her eyes, she slowly saw this colorful world.

Even having seen it in memories, truly seeing it with her own eyes was different.

Most wonderful was this world’s different politics and laws.

Zhao Hezhen didn’t stay long in the hospital. After confirming discharge was possible, she immediately left to return to school.

Sitting in bright classrooms studying with her former students, Fu Changrong studied with her, but soon the two separated, very systematically dividing their studies—each person learning several subjects.

There was too much knowledge to learn, too much knowledge to take back. They had to divide it up, bringing back as much as possible.

Of course, they also had overlapping courses, just very few.

They never doubted they could return.

The school’s professors and teachers saw them studying so diligently—both pleased and heartbroken: “Though they lost their memories, these two children are still so studious. It’s just too tragic—years of learned knowledge forgotten like that.”

“Very tragic, but I heard they still have some memories. As soon as they attend class, things learned before immediately come back. So I think the students studying with them are more tragic.”

Tragic though it was, after re-learning, both their career plans changed.

Zhao Hezhen became more interested in science, ultimately specializing in mathematics and physics.

Fu Changrong was more interested in astronomy and aerospace, also changing his research direction.

Two years later, both rejoined the school staff. The place they most often went was the mall where they’d had their accident. Supposedly they went once a week, and every time they went, they rode that same elevator back and forth several times, unchanging for years.

“This dating pattern is novel, but too unfriendly to us science and engineering people. You don’t know—last month I was pursuing a junior, and she asked if I’d also take her to ride mall elevators like that. Can’t the professors date somewhere else?”

Friends, teachers, and students around them all assumed they were together.

After all, they bought houses across from each other, worked together, studied together, regularly got together to whisper, and even the atmosphere around them together was different from others. If this wasn’t being together, what was?

Only the two of them knew they were just friends, just plotting together how to return home.

About returning home, Zhao Hezhen never doubted. She felt that since she could come, she could definitely return.

But as Fu Changrong’s research deepened, they both began to doubt whether they could return.

Many things were only in the speculation stage. Even with some discoveries, current technology couldn’t penetrate between two space-times.

Moreover, how would their souls separate from their bodies?

When truly reaching the implementation stage, they discovered a huge mountain still blocked the way—unmovable, and for now impossible to cross.

Not just Zhao Hezhen—even Fu Changrong felt disheartened.

The two who had always been disciplined and diligent finally temporarily gave up under the enormous pressure: “I heard alcohol can ease sorrows. When drunk, the heart won’t hurt as much.”

Zhao Hezhen had never drunk alcohol and wanted to try.

Fu Changrong hesitated before saying: “Then let’s try.” He’d never been drunk either.

Neither had alcohol at home. Fu Changrong was too lazy to go out and simply pulled out his phone to order delivery.

Though it was their first time drinking, Zhao Hezhen held her liquor better than Fu Changrong. After finishing one bottle, Fu Changrong was already holding his head in contemplation, but Zhao Hezhen’s face was only flushed, her eyes still bright and sparkling—clearly quite alert.

She poured herself another glass. Seeing Fu Changrong’s glass still full, she didn’t urge him but clinked her own glass against his: “Come, tell me—is Dajin’s alcohol better, or current alcohol?”

Fu Changrong mumbled a reply: “Neither tastes good.”

Zhao Hezhen vigorously patted his arm: “Literati love alcohol. How can you not love it? You have so many sorrows—you should love alcohol even more. How can you not understand?”

Fu Changrong was patted painfully. He raised his head to look at her once, confirming: “You’re also drunk.”

“I’m not drunk. I’m still very clear-headed. You’re the one who’s drunk.” Zhao Hezhen stood up: “I have sour plum soup at home. I’ll get you sour plum soup to sober up.”

She went to the refrigerator for sour plum soup, still calling to Fu Changrong: “Look at me—am I walking super straight?”

Fu Changrong stared blankly at her and nodded. Zhao Hezhen handed him the sour plum soup, smiling particularly foolishly: “So I’m not drunk, right?”

Fu Changrong took the sour plum soup and drank, inwardly scoffing: Walking straight, yes, but asking such a question clearly showed she was drunk.

Zhao Hezhen bumped her leg painfully against a chair leg and couldn’t help kicking it, tears flowing: “Even a chair leg bullies me—thinks I’m easy to bully!”

Fu Changrong quickly handed her tissues and wanted to check her leg. But after standing and taking two steps, his vision blurred and he fell to the floor.

Seeing this, Zhao Hezhen laughed again, simply sitting cross-legged on the floor too: “Your alcohol tolerance isn’t good. My grandfather loved alcohol. With this tolerance, how will you come to my house to propose marriage and pass my grandfather’s test?”

Fu Changrong paused, supporting his forehead to look at her: “What did you say?”

Zhao Hezhen was completely unaware, waving her hand: “Never mind, you needn’t worry. You were personally chosen by Grandfather. Even if your tolerance is poor, even if you can’t drink at all, Grandfather probably won’t mind.”

Fu Changrong was drunk, but his mind still worked. He tilted his head thinking, and many unresolved points suddenly made sense: “Before the accident, our two families were arranging a marriage?”

“Yes,” Zhao Hezhen said. “Why do you think they rushed to move against my brother? Wasn’t it because we were about to marry?”

Having been here over two years, Zhao Hezhen had never mentioned this. They weren’t in that world anymore, and Fu Changrong himself didn’t know—what was the point of bringing it up?

But tonight, Zhao Hezhen opened her heart, concealing nothing, including those filthy calculations within the Zhao family.

Upon realizing they couldn’t return, matters of that world suddenly became past events—even past lives.

Zhao Hezhen no longer felt that sense of “family shame shouldn’t be aired publicly.”

“My grandfather was squeezed out by Prince Donghai. Combined with serious illness, the Zhao clan began declining. Marrying your family at this time wasn’t just about the two surnames allying to protect the Zhao clan—it was to protect my brother and me.”

Zhao Hezhen knew everything.

She had elder female cousins. If the next Marquis Shangcai was Uncle, those cousins’ status would be more noble.

Yet Grandfather still chose for her to marry the Fu family—it was to borrow Fu Zhi’s hand to shelter their siblings.

Fu Zhi was gradually replacing Zhao Changyu in court as the leader of the loyalist faction.

The forces in Zhao Changyu’s hands that Zhao Zhongyu couldn’t inherit would all transition to Fu Zhi, who would lead them to resist Prince Donghai and other nobles while protecting the Emperor.

“What a pity, my grandfather’s plan. Your grandfather knew it, Uncle Fu understood it, but my uncle and aunt were too stupid. Oh, and my cousins—also extremely stupid. They thought Grandfather arranged our marriage to support Erlang as heir, not knowing Grandfather only sought peace and safety for Erlang and me.”

Fu Changrong finally asked: “Who specifically moved against you in your accident?”

“Who knows?” Zhao Hezhen said. “Nothing more than my uncle and aunt, or my cousin siblings. Now it’s too late to say anything—I can’t go back anyway.”

Fu Changrong saw her sadness and changed the subject: “How far had our two families progressed?”

Zhao Hezhen: “According to Mother, the two grandfathers had already agreed, exchanged tokens, just waiting to exchange betrothal documents.”

Exchanging betrothal documents meant the two families were formally betrothed.

Fu Changrong hadn’t expected they’d reached this step. He hesitated momentarily.

Zhao Hezhen vigorously patted his shoulder: “Why are you embarrassed? I’m not embarrassed. We’re both dead, can’t go back—these are all past events.”

Fu Changrong opened his mouth but made no sound.

Zhao Hezhen’s alcohol was taking effect. Tired and sleepy, she simply lay down on the floor, mumbling: “Past events, past events… I wonder how Mother and Erlang are. If we don’t return soon, it’ll truly be too late…”

In a daze, she seemed to see stars shining brilliantly, heaven and earth vast. On the wilderness, torches formed constellations—connected camps, clearly a military encampment.

A woman who looked extremely like her sat in a large tent, seriously writing something by candlelight.

As if sensing something, she suddenly raised her head to look directly at her.

“What’s wrong?”

A voice sounded, startling Zhao Hezhen.

She turned to look and saw Fu Changrong.

Her eyes widened.

The person at the desk shook her head: “Just felt strange, like someone was watching me just now.”

Zhao Hezhen quickly realized—these were “her” and Fu Changrong’s bodies. Their souls were in another world, so who was in their bodies?

She already had a guess. Sure enough, she soon heard him call her name: “Hanzhang.”

“Hanzhang,” Zhao Hezhen murmured. “It really is her. It truly was an exchange. But what’s going on? They’re in a military tent? Looking at the position, this is clearly the central tent.”

Zhao Hezhen looked at Fu Tinghan, speculating: “Could he have become a military commander?”

But seeing Zhao Hanzhang seated in the main position, she felt something was off.

As the thought flashed by, mountains and rivers rapidly receded. The connected military camps instantly disappeared. She suddenly appeared in an ancestral hall.

She looked up—it was actually the Zhao clan ancestral hall, with someone kneeling inside.

Seeing the person clearly, Zhao Hezhen’s eyes widened as she rushed forward: “Mother—”

She didn’t make contact but passed right through.

Lady Wang knelt on a cushion respectfully praying: “Ancestors, please bless my children Hanzhang and Yong’er to be safe…”

After finishing the prayer, she couldn’t help adding more: “Ancestors, bless my Hanzhang to seize Yuzhou territory, become Governor, ideally becoming a court pillar like Father-in-law. Actually being like Prince Donghai would work too. The Emperor is incompetent—capable people like my daughter should manage the realm. Of course, Hanzhang definitely won’t be incompetent and vicious like Prince Donghai…”

Lady Wang said in a tiny voice: “Actually she could become a female Cao Gong.”

After speaking, she looked around as if afraid someone might hear, then continued whispering quietly: “Anyway she’s already become County Magistrate, become Commandery Administrator, and is about to become Governor. What’s wrong with becoming Regent next? After becoming Regent, she can seize back the title…”

Zhao Hezhen: …Why does Mother keep going on about the title?

But… the connected military camps—it wasn’t Fu Tinghan as commander, it was her.

Zhao Hezhen felt a sense of disorientation, but thinking of that person’s character and abilities in her memories, it seemed perfectly right.

Zhao Hezhen’s heart settled at once. Looking at her muttering mother again, she suddenly felt relieved, unable to help showing a happy smile.

There couldn’t be a better situation than this. Even if she returned, she wouldn’t have achieved such accomplishments.

Watching her mother continue wishing, Zhao Hezhen couldn’t help moving closer, calling softly: “Mother…”

Lady Wang, still muttering, paused. She raised her head and looked around bewildered, frowning in confusion. Not daring to speak aloud anymore, she silently recited three times in her heart: “Bless Hanzhang and Yong’er to be safe…”

Then she hastily got up to leave.

Qinggu, waiting outside, supported her: “Mistress, what’s wrong?”

“I, I’m a bit cold. I suspect because I muttered too much, some ancestor returned to the ancestral hall. Let’s go back quickly.”

Zhao Hezhen: …

Though her heart had settled, she instinctively wanted to follow out to see. But just reaching the doorway, her vision went black. Then she felt a coolness sweep over her body. Beneath her was hard, uncomfortable everywhere, only her neck and head warm and comfortable.

She struggled to open her eyes and saw herself lying on the floor, her head pillowed on Fu Changrong’s stomach. Startled, she quickly got up.

Fu Changrong also woke, rubbing his forehead and climbing up, looking at her dazedly: “No wonder I dreamed last night I was lying on a galloping horse, pressing on my stomach painfully. Turns out you were pressing on my belly.”

Zhao Hezhen paused, asking: “Riding a horse? You dreamed you went back?”

“Yes, I even dreamed of you. Fully armed, wielding a long spear onto the battlefield killing enemies—how imposing!”

Zhao Hezhen: “Governor of Yuzhou?”

Fu Changrong’s body stiffened, his eyes gradually widening as he looked at her: “Zhao Hanzhang?”

The two confirmed they’d had the same dream. However, she saw the first half while he saw the second half of the same scene.

Both stared wide-eyed at each other, slowly accepting what they’d seen in the dream, then finding relief. They both couldn’t help smiling, their eyes seemingly holding stars—sparkling and joyful.