One month passed quickly.
Doing exercises daily, sometimes reading novels without hearing his mother scolding, and waiting for his golden finger to arrive—these were the things that kept Shuron from dying of boredom.
But today was the day his wait finally ended.
Sitting alone by his room window, looking at the lively street below, filled with noise and movement, Shuron sighed.
"It's good that I prepared myself for not getting any golden finger. I even made plans in case I didn't get one.
After waiting a whole month, I can finally let go of that hope. Now I can focus on real things."
Though he sounded calm, the reality was different.
He really wanted to smack whoever had sent him here without any golden finger. If they were going to change his life, they could have at least helped a little, right?
He was angry, but didn't say it out loud. He didn't know if they could hear him. He wasn't ready to confront some incomprehensible existence yet.
He stood up and closed the window. As the noise faded into silence, he stretched his body.
Murmuring, "Well, I only have about four to six years to earn enough money to cure my parents. So I need to think of some methods to make money, whether legal or illegal."
He paused, thinking.
"Hmm… the best way would be to invest in small companies that will become successful later. But I'd need money from my parents. Also I can't invest myself—I can only guide Dad. But… he won't believe a child like me. Should I reveal my secret of coming back from the future?"
He frowned slightly.
"And there's also the uncertainty. What if that company doesn't succeed in this new world? It's too risky."
"Anyway, I can just become a genius child. An influencer or even a celebrity… but that sounds exhausting. The attention and all that—too annoying."
His family didn't like attention either.
"It's not a great option. Still… better than the previous one.
And there's also that…"
He continued listing strategies to earn money quickly, weighing their pros and cons.
In the end, he decided to become a social media influencer first, then use the earnings to invest in stocks.
This method had its own problems, but it was still the most logical choice. Yes, his family disliked attention, but it was far better than revealing the shocking truth about his return.
They would probably question how he suddenly became a genius. But he could simply say it was natural talent, along with hard work.
So now, he would start by showing his abilities to his family, then at school, and eventually on a larger stage—gaining attention and followers online, and earning money.
Everything was set.
Now, he just needed his father to come home and show the whole family his genius.
***
Shuron's wait paid off. His father finally arrived home in his car.
He waited for him to freshen up. He isn't going to annoy his father just after he had comeback from his work. He will wait untill dinner. Also he couldn't just declare that he was a genius—they would laugh it off.
He had to show it naturally, indirectly, revealing signs little by little. It would take time, but it was the most effective way.
So, he began.
While eating dinner with his family, he started asking questions that a normal twelve-year-old couldn't even comprehend.
These weren't from schoolbooks. They were questions shaped by experience—things he had only understood as an adult, after carrying responsibility.
"Why don't we invest instead of just saving money?"
"Is our income stable, or are we one problem away from losing everything?"
"Which decision cost you the most money in your life?"
"Why do people get attached when everything eventually ends?"
"Do you think small choices change everything later?"
"Is it wrong to lie if it prevents something worse?"
When he asked the first question, his parents' initial thought was simple—why was their child thinking about this? Shouldn't he just be playing?
But they didn't say it out loud. They knew they shouldn't ignore his questions or give careless answers. They had to try their best.
If they didn't, they might hinder their child's growth.
So, they answered as well as they could.
But the next day, the questions became even more difficult—some beyond their understanding.
Seeing their speechless expressions, Shuron laughed inwardly.
"These questions only surface after eight years… how can anyone answer them now?"
The following day, he pushed even further. They managed to answer only one, with the help of the internet.
Even then, the internet didn't truly have answers. It simply wasn't advanced enough in this time.
And he didn't just ask questions—he also gave vague hints of answers, subtly displaying his intellect to his parents.
His sister, Roxa, had been speechless since the first day. She couldn't understand why her brother was asking such things.
Shouldn't he just play with her? Why all these questions?
But the fourth day was different.
They didn't hear a single question from him. Instead, they saw Shuron, full of excitement, asking his father to take him somewhere.
His father was surprised. The place Shuron wanted to go was outside the city.
He asked why, but Shuron only shrugged.
"Well, even I don't know. But it's important. Let's go, Dad. Don't waste time. Today is weekend, and you are free, so...."
"Okay, okay, don't get too excited. We'll go," before he could say more. His father, Aven, replied with a sigh.
It was a sigh of relief. At least today, he could escape those difficult questions. He wouldn't have to feel embarrassed in front of his children and wife anymore.
He quickly began preparing for the trip, packing essentials and basic supplies for the mountain range.
Aven decided to take only Shuron with him, not the whole family. Otherwise, there would be too much to pack, and the weight would increase. He wouldn't be able to carry everything while climbing and exploring.
So, he prepared only for himself and Shuron.
While packing, he murmured inwardly, "Looks like Shuron just wants to have some fun after being bored… or maybe he wants to find proof for that question he asked yesterday. Well, he really is a smart kid. He'll definitely find his answers."
Other than that, Aven couldn't think of any reasonable reason for Shuron wanting to go out. The boy hadn't even gone out to play for nearly a month.
Then he recalled the question.
"Right… what was it? If erosion is inevitable, can we really call mountains stable structures, or are they just slow-motion collapses we mistake for permanence?"
He shook his head slightly.
"Though I don't know how Shuron plans to find proof, I'll just tag along with him."
***
On the same day, Shuron, with his father in tow, began the journey to his destination by car.
The car moved, leaving the street near Shuron's house and continuing forward without stopping.
Soon, they were out of the city, heading toward the mountain range beyond it.
As they reached the northern outskirts of the mountain range, they noticed many vehicles and people moving in the same direction.
But Aven didn't stop. He kept driving, following Shuron's guidance.
After a few minutes, they saw the end of the road ahead. Many vehicles were parked in the clearing, and people were getting out of their vehicles, walking along a dirt path.
A little further ahead, open spaces stretched out where families had set up tents and settled in, enjoying the scenery.
Aven parked the car at the end of the road, just like the others. But he didn't follow the crowd.
Instead, he waited for Shuron to speak.
When Shuron remained silent, simply looking around, Aven finally asked, "Shuron, where should we go now?"