"You really don't want me to sleep with you tonight?"

"I'm really fine now, mom." ChunHua reassured her mother with a smile for the upteenth time. However, her mother continued to look at her worriedly.

"You've placed midnight snacks here and tucked me in bed. Xiao Tang is here with me too." ChunHua hugged their dog's large neck. "I can't ask for anything more."

Her mother finally broke into a small indulgent smile. "Of course you can."

ChunHua laughed lightly. "I'm no longer a baby."

"You'll always be this family's precious baby princess." Her mother said while tucking a strand of loose hair behind her ears.

"Mooom."

Now it was her mother's turn to laugh. "Goodnight and rest well." She kissed ChunHua's forehead then left the room, not forgetting to close the door behind her.

ChunHua sighed lightly while she stared at the bed canopy with Xiao Tang still in her arms. The day's events replayed in her mind. A merry night out with her loving family really did wonders. Her heart began to settle. Xiao Tang's soft fur and warmth also helped to keep her grounded. The horrible nightmare began feeling like one despite it being hyper realistic.

A soft but bright phone chime broke the silence of her room and made her jump. Who could it be?

She  grabbed her handphone from the table. The notification on the screen made her heart drop. Her hands turned cold and clammy. "Wh- What... It's the same..."

"I managed to clear my work for you! It was really tough but I made it! All for my dear. Let's go out tomorrow. How does Spring Garden sound?"

Spring Garden... Same place. She continued to stare at her phone. Same words...

Xiao Tang nudged her arm and pressed against her. ChunHua slowly turned to look at it. "Xiao Tang..." Tears welled up in her eyes as she dropped her phone. "What should I do...? Is everything... Real...?"

Xiao Tang whined softly and tilted its head slightly.

"I can only find out myself huh..." She stared at her handphone on the bed for a long time. Finally, she reluctantly reached for it. Letter by letter, her message was crafted with extreme care.

"Awww, you're the best, BaiQiao! I love Spring Garden! BaiQiao really knows me best!" ChunHua typed the same reply that she gave in her memories. After checking it over and over again, she finally pressed send.

This was the first time she studied the messages they exchanged this much. Thanks to it, she realised how blind she was. "He didn't ask me if I felt well enough..." ChunHua mumbled under her breath.

She remembered now. She had came down with a bad flu. She was actually still unwell. However, Bai Qiao said that he pushed himself hard for her. She would feel guilty if she rejected him to stay home. So, she agreed to go. Unfortunately for her, it rained when they reached there. The dreary weather combined with her physical condition made her feel so bad that she could not hide it. BaiQiao ended up sending her home.

ChunHua checked the weather forecast across different sites. Every single one predicted a bad weather the next day. Why would he choose an outdoor activity then? He can't be that negligent...

Suspicions grew. Her grip on her phone tightened. What did he do after he left my house...?

Now that she could not sleep, she took her midnight snacks and drink to the balcony. Xiao Tang followed her closely. She lounged on the little sofa with Xiao Tang's head on her lap and stared at the back yard before them. The sight of nature blanketed in darkness and the faint smell of grass also triggered unpleasant memories. She bent down and breathed in Xiao Tang's scent instead.

If everything was real... It'd mean that I travelled back in time... 2 years... That's not a lot of time. She sighed and her brows knitted tightly. All the nonsensical evidence that he presented... His affair... Yes, they've just started.

ChunHua felt alive and awake. Accepting that she travelled back in time was easier than she thought it would be. She fervently planned every action she would take to prevent her family's downfall. It took her a long time. Not wanting to leave any evidence behind, she committed everything to memory. This being her first time playing the schemer, she encountered a lot of mental blocks and moral dilemmas. One of her greatest worries was that she had not time travelled but crossed worlds or dimensions.

What if they're all different people? I would end up the bully instead...

The first sun rays lit up the horizon, prompting her to look up from twiddling Xiao Tang's fur. There's no point guessing. I'll just make sure of it. If they're the same, I'll pay them back ten folds. No, a hundred folds.