Category: A New Life, Yet Still Bound by Her Love

Chapter 15: Setting Sun

“Nice shot, nice shot, Su Yu!”

The basketball arced through the crimson light of the setting sun and swished through the net. It was a three-pointer, a beautiful shot, eliciting cheers from the court.

Su Yu was happy, not just because of the score, but because of the nostalgic feeling of recapturing his youthful passion. He remembered this game in his previous life… he had lost. It was a regret painted on the canvas of his youth, but this time, he wanted to be selfish, he wanted to win.

“Halftime!”

Chen Kai patted Su Yu’s shoulder and tossed him a bottle of water. “You played well. I thought you’d be rusty after so long.”

“I practiced a bit these past two days. Maybe I’m just feeling it.” Su Yu took a long gulp of water.

“You’re finally getting some recognition.” Chen Kai looked at the spectators on the sidelines and nudged Su Yu. “So many girls are cheering for you. With your looks, if you weren’t so fixated on one person, you would have had a girlfriend ages ago.”

“Who’s here to watch me? I don’t see it.”

“Huh? That water you just drank, the girl in the blue shirt gave it to you. You finished the whole thing.”

“You set me up! Why didn’t you tell me earlier?” Su Yu glared at Chen Kai’s mischievous grin and turned helplessly towards the girl in the blue shirt, mouthing a “thank you.”

Su Yu didn’t consider this something to brag about. Maybe he had been smug about it before, but later he learned that reality wouldn’t hesitate to beat his handsome face to a pulp. In life, he was often as pathetic as a beggar.

The team discussed their strategy, but it was mostly encouragement. They didn’t want to lose their last high school game before the gaokao.

“Second half’s starting. Come on, let’s win this.”

“If we lose, I won’t be able to focus on the gaokao. We have to win.”

“Let’s go!”

…

In the crowded stands, a pair of fierce eyes searched the basketball court for a particular figure. Her gaze followed the ball as it soared through the air and then plunged through the hoop.

Another score, another surge of excitement on the court.

…

“That guy Su Yu is so good. He keeps scoring.”

“He’s handsome too. I never noticed him before. Which class is he in?”

“Class 1. I’ve seen him a few times. He seems pretty low-key.”

“Oh? Isn’t that Xia Qian Ge’s class?”

“Yeah, so you might as well give up.”

“Heh, not necessarily. What’s so good about a goody-two-shoes like Xia Qian Ge? Maybe he likes someone like me.”

…

Xia Qian Ge stood in an inconspicuous corner of the crowd, her expression calm, as if she had just stumbled upon the game while taking a stroll.

She slowly looked away from him, lowering her long, curled eyelashes, concealing the icy coldness in her eyes, the ancient ice of the far north.

Her heart was like a dormant volcano suddenly erupting, the terrifying heat burning the air around her, engulfing her body, melting her flesh and bone to ashes, barely concealing the coldness and obsession within her.

Ice and fire alternated, the defenses of her reason beginning to crumble.

If the treasure you’ve cherished for so long, before your name is fully etched upon it, is one day discovered and coveted by others, how much reason can one possibly retain?

Too many people were watching him. It was just a basketball game, yet it attracted a swarm of nameless bees and butterflies, some frivolous…

Her tongue pressed against the roof of her mouth, then ran across her teeth. Her vocal cords vibrated fiercely, uttering a single, sharp syllable: “Bitch.”

These people didn’t understand. They only saw his face, not his soul. They were just animals in heat, superficial… utterly wasteful!

A cracking sound came from her hand. Xia Qian Ge looked down. The water bottle she was holding was crumpled almost beyond recognition, its mangled form mirroring her current state.

Lost control again… she thought to herself.

…

“Last point.”

Su Yu’s breathing was heavy, the basketball clutched tightly in his hand. He turned, faking a move past the defender, and jumped for the basket.

He landed wearily, his knees weak, half-sprawled on the ground, not even looking at the basket. The sharp whistle blew, and cheers erupted from the court. Su Yu laughed breathlessly. It seemed… he had won.

“Let’s go, time for class.”

Chen Kai, also exhausted, extended a hand to Su Yu, his face beaming.

“Let’s go back.”

Su Yu wiped the sweat from his forehead and sprinkled it on the court, like a final period, marking the end of his youth.

“Leaving already?”

“What else is there to do here?”

“There are a lot of people who want to give you water. Don’t want any?”

“No, thanks. Let’s go to class.”

Su Yu and Chen Kai walked arm in arm towards the exit, when suddenly someone stopped Su Yu. It was a familiar figure.

“Hey, I brought you some water.”

“I… I’m not thirsty yet.” Su Yu looked at the girl, stunned for a moment. “You actually came?”

“Didn’t you say you had a game today? I just came to watch.” The girl shoved the water into Su Yu’s hand. “Just take it. Why so much nonsense?”

He Mu Qing wore a loose-fitting school uniform, her high ponytail swaying behind her. Su Yu rarely interacted with He Mu Qing at school. He had mentioned the game casually, not expecting her to actually come.

“I… I’m leaving. You played well, by the way.”

He Mu Qing felt the curious gazes around them. The setting sun painted her cheeks a rosy hue, the color spreading from her hair to her earlobes. She spoke hurriedly and then left as if fleeing. “Well, that’s it. Good luck with the exams.”

Besides Chen Kai, not many people knew that Su Yu and He Mu Qing were childhood friends. But He Mu Qing was well-known at school, straightforward and beautiful, so everyone knew about the fiery rose of Grade 11. But now they realized the flower… seemed to be taken, or at least had someone in mind.

The crowd murmured, some envious, some disappointed, and some… hidden among them, their gaze cold and bloodthirsty, the gaze of a predator looking down at its prey. But now… someone had gotten in her way, a step ahead of her. Her prey had been snatched away. This was an accident no hunter could tolerate.

In just a moment, the coldness in Xia Qian Ge’s eyes faded, returning to its usual appearance. She had to be patient… slowly devour everything he had. Rushing… would only disrupt her plans.

Xia Qian Ge turned and left. As she passed a trash can, a bottle of mineral water she had just bought from the supermarket was tossed inside, hitting the bottom with a dull thud.

A few drops of blood stained the seal of the bottle, blood from her nails digging into her flesh, a chilling crimson in the setting sun, revealing the madness and obsession deep within her bones.

Chapter 14: Wild Ambition

The classroom was still noisy and chaotic. Every now and then, someone would bump into her desk, causing the tall stack of books to teeter precariously, sending the book she was about to turn to tumbling to the floor. Even after brushing off the dust, a dark mark remained, impossible to erase, marring the cleanliness of the book, making it look particularly unpleasant.

No apology, not a single one.

Listening to the fading clamor, Xia Qian Ge lowered her long eyelashes, gently smoothing the wrinkles on the book, and continued turning the pages, her expression unchanged.

Reading seemed to be just a way to find some empathy, to calm her restless heart. But as she turned to a new page, her gaze lingered on a particular passage, her eyes fixed for a long time. A surge of blood rushed to her heart, then spread through her limbs.

The printed words were arranged like this:

“Without you, I drag my frail body through a soulless, morbid existence, refusing treatment. With you, I remain frail, still morbid, and you mock me like a medicine bottle. My disappointment is immeasurable, yet you say, I am the medicine to cure you…”

Xia Qian Ge read softly, her voice low… but resolute.

Around her, a few female classmates whispered amongst themselves. The boys in the class had probably gone to watch the basketball game today. More than half the seats were empty. With the boys gone, the girls no longer had to maintain their usual restraint. They played around noisily in the classroom, gossiping loudly. Xia Qian Ge sat there… looking particularly out of place.

Exceptional people seemed destined to be lonely. Xia Qian Ge’s relationship with everyone was decent. She always smiled at people, maintaining a proper distance. But if you have equally good relationships with everyone, isn’t that the same as having no close relationships at all?

But Xia Qian Ge didn’t care, just as she disdained joining in on the gossip and whispers of the girls around her. Their shy, joyful tones revealed their adolescent crushes.

…

“Hey, why do boys like basketball so much? They all ran off at once. The exams are coming up, and they’re not even worried.”

“Boys, they all like to show off. They’re just waiting for girls to cheer for them. So childish. By the way, how many boys from our class are playing in the basketball game?”

“Chen Kai, Wang Mingle… I forgot the others. Oh… and Su Yu.”

“Tsk tsk, why do you blush whenever someone mentions Su Yu? Something’s going on, right?”

“I like Su Yu, didn’t you know?”

“It’s just because he’s good-looking. I know you. Do you even have a chance?”

“Why wouldn’t I…”

“Doesn’t Su Yu like…”

The voice abruptly stopped, seemingly implying something.

“Don’t talk nonsense. Su Yu helped me carry my homework a few times. He’s so gentle with me. We even chatted until late at night a few days ago.” The girl lowered her voice, her tone joyful. “You guys don’t get that kind of treatment, do you? I’m going to chase him after graduation.”

The girl deliberately raised her voice, “I’ve called dibs, no one can steal him from me!”

“Wow, no wonder you rejected that boy who confessed to you. You had your eyes on Su Yu all along.”

“Hee hee…”

…

The chatter continued, but Xia Qian Ge was no longer in the mood to listen. She closed her book, her tired gaze following the setting sun’s rays to the distant basketball court. He should be playing there now. Xia Qian Ge could vaguely make out the crowd on the court.

Too many people were watching him… she didn’t like it. This wasn’t a good sign.

Her delicate eyebrows furrowed. The more the girls in her class gossiped, the louder the cheers from the court, the more irritated she became.

A thin layer of ice gradually formed over Xia Qian Ge’s eyes, hidden beneath her bangs. She took deep breaths, trying to calm her racing heart. This momentary loss of composure startled her.

Xia Qian Ge… Xia Qian Ge, what are you doing? Showing such a flustered side of yourself.

It wasn’t just the current irritation. The change in her mood started when some things began to slip out of her control.

When did it start? Xia Qian Ge couldn’t find the answer, nor could she pinpoint the problem. She had clearly been carving her image into his eyes, waiting for the day when they would be completely filled with her, the only thing he could see.

But suddenly, many other things appeared in his clear eyes. The time he spent looking at her grew shorter and shorter, the messages he sent her became fewer and fewer, and he no longer searched for her figure in the crowd. The boy who once held a naive, almost obsessive love for her seemed… to have changed drastically.

Why… why hadn’t he continued along the path she had laid out for him? Why had he deviated, his goals shifting, requiring her to constantly readjust her plans? If the fish completely jumped out of the pond and into the vast ocean, she would never find him again.

She admitted she was afraid. The old him would never have spared a glance for other women. But now, Xia Qian Ge was unsure. Perhaps… she should be more proactive.

She would win… she had to. She hadn’t even noticed the wild ambition growing within her quiet exterior, threatening to consume her entirely.

Her sharp nails unconsciously scratched the page, leaving deep marks. Every grain of affection in his eyes, as fine as dust, should be under her control. Not a bit more, not a fraction less!

She abruptly stood up, her gaze sweeping over the gossiping girls, cold as a knife.

Xia Qian Ge walked towards the restroom, but the conversation behind her made her stop.

…

“Su Yu’s game is about to start. Let’s go watch.”

“Tsk tsk, what are you planning?”

“Don’t play dumb. She wants to cheer for him.”

…

A cold smile played on Xia Qian Ge’s lips. She didn’t care about the girls behind her, didn’t even feel the urge to compete. But she should be more proactive. Consider it a honeyed treat for her pet, so that his eyes would only reflect her image, Xia Qian Ge.

Xia Qian Ge changed direction, heading down the stairs.

Outside the window behind her, the clouds burned like flames, engulfing the entire sky. The blood-red setting sun served as the backdrop for her departure, casting a crimson filter over her.

Her figure was lonely and obsessive, like a hungry wolf that wouldn’t release its grip on its prey’s throat until blood flowed freely, or until she was exhausted and near death, only then… would she relent.

Chapter 13: Bonds

“I had a lot of fun today. I feel much less stressed.”

“You shouldn’t worry too much about your grades. Don’t overthink it.”

“Mm-hmm, I will. I’ll talk to you later, I’m going to take a shower.”

“Okay.”

The phone screen flickered, and Su Yu, after a final glance, turned it off and placed it on the desk.

They had snuck out of school, bought some snacks, and wandered around freely, returning to the classroom just ten minutes before the end of evening self-study. Fortunately, no teacher had discovered their escape.

What was a common occurrence for Su Yu and Chen Kai was a bit nerve-wracking for Xia Qian Ge. She had followed behind him the whole time, worried about getting caught, yet also thrilled by the novelty of it all.

Growing up always gradually restrains one’s nature. The impulses of youth often seem childish and laughable in hindsight.

Su Yu had gradually adapted to his life after rebirth. He could interact with everyone around him naturally, and no one had noticed anything amiss.

A second chance at life wasn’t boring. Now he just had to wait. His life would restart in college, because he would choose a different university than before and start anew.

“Xiao Yu, thank you so much this time. If it weren’t for your casual mention, we wouldn’t have discovered your Uncle He’s illness.” Auntie He piled food into Su Yu’s bowl, still seeming shaken. “We found it early, so it’s treatable. Otherwise, I don’t know what we would have done.”

“It’s good that everything’s okay.” Su Yu smiled and glanced at He Mu Qing, who was quietly eating her rice. He felt something was strange. “Mu Qing, what’s wrong?”

“I got second to last in the class.”

Before Auntie He could answer, He Mu Qing looked up and said abruptly.

“Was the test too difficult?”

“I didn’t do well on the math test. It was so hard… I just couldn’t do it.”

He Mu Qing lowered her head again, her voice laced with frustration, but the stubbornness in her eyes remained. Clearly, she and her mother had argued about her grades before Su Yu arrived.

“Mu Qing and I are full…”

Su Yu put down his chopsticks and tugged on He Mu Qing’s sleeve, earning a glare from the girl.

“What? I know you did well on the test.” He Mu Qing bit her lip, muttering, “Like good grades are so great…”

“How well I do has nothing to do with you. If you don’t understand the problems, I can teach you. Do you have the test paper?”

“You teach me? You?” He Mu Qing raised her voice, staring at Su Yu. “You have your gaokao in a few days, and you’re worried about me…”

“That’s why I only have an hour. If you don’t want to waste time, we should start now.”

Su Yu looked back at He Mu Qing and smiled.

…

“You got this problem wrong too? It’s not that difficult. You mixed up the basic formulas, how could you get it right?”

“Ugh, I don’t want to study anymore. I’ll never get it anyway.”

He Mu Qing impatiently threw down her pen, her wet hair in disarray. She had just taken a shower, the scent of shower gel still lingering around her. She wore a loose-fitting nightgown, revealing large swathes of her milky-white skin.

Su Yu instinctively moved a bit further away, a flustered expression on his face. He Mu Qing… really didn’t have any reservations around him.

“If you don’t want to study now, we can do it next time. You’re only a sophomore… there’s still time.”

“Tsk tsk, Su Yu, you…”

He Mu Qing stared at Su Yu suspiciously. She suddenly leaned closer, her sweet breath brushing against his face. He could even see the soft downy hairs on her cheeks.

“What about me?”

“You sound like an old man lately, like a completely different person.”

“If you don’t want to see me, just say it. You don’t have to insult me indirectly.”

“Hmph…” He Mu Qing leaned back, the soft, warm light of the desk lamp reflecting in her eyes. She stared blankly ahead, her thoughts written plainly on her face. “Do you think… I’m really stupid? Other people can learn things in minutes, but I spend so long and still don’t understand.”

“Stupid, of course you’re stupid.” Su Yu looked at He Mu Qing seriously and nodded emphatically. “But ignorance is bliss. It’s a good thing. There will always be someone who loves you and can tolerate your stupidity.”

“Someone who loves me…”

He Mu Qing lowered her long eyelashes, as if to hide some emotion she didn’t want him to see. But the next second, her slender foot kicked Su Yu hard in the shin, making him gasp in pain.

“What was that for, He Mu Qing? What’s wrong with you?”

“You called me stupid, didn’t you? I gave you a chance, and you didn’t comfort me, you just called me stupid again.”

“Wait, wait, wait… my phone’s ringing.”

Su Yu showed He Mu Qing his phone. “It’s my dad. I really have to go now.”

“Go on then, you always make me angry when you come over.”

…

Su Yu left the He family home. He glanced at his still-vibrating phone and answered the call.

“Xiao Yu? What are you doing? Why didn’t you answer the phone?”

“If you have something to say, just say it.”

The voice on the other end belonged to a middle-aged man, his tone slightly ingratiating. But to Su Yu, it was just guilt.

Su Yu had never met his mother. His parents had divorced after he was born. He only knew that his mother was a beautiful woman. The old man always said Su Yu looked a lot like her.

Su Yu wasn’t bad-looking, but his features were more feminine and delicate, especially his eyes and eyebrows, which resembled his mother’s in the photos.

The old man was always busy with work, rarely coming home. Su Yu was unfamiliar with his mother and didn’t have strong feelings for his father either.

When Su Yu was younger, he had blamed his father for driving his mother away. But even after growing up and understanding things better, he still found it difficult to smile at his father.

Familial affection needed time to cultivate. A forced relationship was as fragile as a spider’s thread, unable to withstand even a gentle breeze.

“Can’t I call you if I have nothing to say? I’m just checking on you since the gaokao is coming up.”

“If you’re so concerned, do you even know when the gaokao is?”

“I…” The man’s voice faltered. “Forget it, let’s not talk about this. Are you short on money these days? I can transfer you some more later.”

“I need to study. Is there anything else?”

“Wait… there is something. Dad has something to discuss with you.”

The man’s voice was hesitant, the words seemingly caught in his throat.

Su Yu waited patiently. He knew what his father was hesitating about. He had found another woman and had been married for a year, keeping it a secret from Su Yu. In his previous life, Su Yu had only met the woman a few times. She also had a daughter.

The girl was the same age as Su Yu. They had only shared a couple of meals at the dinner table. He hadn’t had high expectations for that kind of patched-together family and had moved out after graduation.

“If you don’t want to say it, forget it. Anything else?”

“Uh… no. Then you should focus on your studies.” The man sighed, full of regret.

Su Yu hung up the phone, looked up at the apartment complex shrouded in night, the warm lights of each home flickering in his dark eyes. He stood by the window for a long time.

Chapter 12: Crimson Moon

A stifling atmosphere silently spread through the classroom, the oppressive urgency accumulating along the walls of the cramped space like a sardine can, making it hard to breathe.

Su Yu gazed out at the silent night. The old streetlights along the track had gone out at some point, the darkness stretching along the track to the edge of his vision. It seemed as though monsters were lurking in the night, licking their fangs, their bloodshot eyes reflecting Su Yu’s image.

“Hey, wanna grab some snacks?”

Suddenly, someone patted Su Yu’s shoulder. He turned around and saw Chen Kai behind him.

“The school store is closed.”

“Then let’s go out and buy some.”

“Alright, a walk would be nice.”

Su Yu didn’t think much of it and agreed. Their class didn’t have a teacher supervising them on Wednesday evenings. Sneaking out of the classroom for some fresh air was something he and Chen Kai had done many times before. The atmosphere was too suffocating; they needed an outlet.

“Xia Qian Ge, want us to bring you anything?” Chen Kai called out to Xia Qian Ge, who was sitting in front of them.

“Hmm?” Xia Qian Ge put down her pen and slowly turned around, her slender eyebrows slightly furrowed. “Are you… going out again?”

“It’s too stuffy. Su Yu and I are going out for some air.”

Xia Qian Ge’s clear, black and white eyes flickered with complex emotions. She was looking at both of them, but Su Yu felt like she was staring at him. He could even see the reflections in her dark pupils.

“Can… can I go with you?”

“Huh?”

Chen Kai was stunned, and so was Su Yu. This had never happened in his previous life.

“I guess… it’s okay, right?” Chen Kai looked at Su Yu, a mischievous smile on his face. “Su Yu, what do you think?”

…

Besides the main gate and the side gate, there was only one other little-known exit from the school. Chen Kai and Su Yu had discovered it before; it was a leftover from the school’s renovations. To get out, they had to go through a small wooded area.

Su Yu and Xia Qian Ge walked together, while Chen Kai, wanting to give them some alone time, walked ahead briskly.

“I didn’t expect you to come out with us.”

“Are you surprised?”

“Yeah.” Su Yu nodded. “You don’t seem like someone who likes to join in on this kind of thing.”

“Is that so?” Xia Qian Ge stopped walking and brushed aside the hair covering her eyes. She stared at Su Yu. “Then what do you think I’m like?”

“Huh?”

Lost in thought, Su Yu hadn’t even noticed that Xia Qian Ge had stopped. He accidentally stepped on a crooked branch, the sharp crack echoing through the quiet woods. He snapped back to reality and realized Xia Qian Ge was behind him.

“I…”

Xia Qian Ge stood in the darkness. The moon was full and bright tonight, but its light couldn’t penetrate the dense summer canopy. Indistinct shadows covered half her face, obscuring her expression.

“Are you mad? I didn’t mean anything by it.” Su Yu paused and explained, thinking Xia Qian Ge was upset that he hadn’t wanted her to come along.

But Xia Qian Ge still didn’t answer. She just stood there. A night owl perched in the corner of the woods, its baby-like cries mixing with the rustling leaves in the night breeze.

Su Yu’s Adam’s apple bobbed nervously. He suddenly felt wary. These past few days, he had been lulled by pleasantries. This current peace was only because he had been reborn.

The ability to change the past made Su Yu feel a bit detached. He didn’t have to worry about the pressure of senior year, could easily correct past mistakes, and could even pave a smooth path for his future. Rebirth had brought him many benefits, but it had also relaxed his vigilance for too long.

Perhaps a monster was lurking in the darkness, its crimson eyes fixed on him, watching him silently.

Su Yu instinctively looked up at the sky. The normally white moon was now blood red, its crimson light bathing him, making him feel as if he was covered in blood.

Blood, viscous… crimson.

Su Yu was startled. He stumbled back, unable to believe his eyes.

“Pfft…”

A soft laugh cut through the strange sounds around him. Su Yu, fighting back his fear, looked up. Xia Qian Ge was walking towards him, the shadows receding from her face. This time, Su Yu finally saw her expression. She was smiling. He looked up at the sky again. There was no blood moon, only a clear, white crescent moon.

“I didn’t know you were so easily scared, Su Yu. I was just joking.”

Xia Qian Ge chuckled and walked up to Su Yu, her pretty eyes curving into crescents, looking incredibly cute.

“Haha, you really scared me.” Su Yu clutched his chest, playing along. “I’m actually quite afraid of the dark.”

“Afraid of the dark…” Xia Qian Ge murmured softly, a smile playing on her lips.

“Here, hold my hand, if you’re scared…”

Xia Qian Ge extended her hand towards Su Yu.

“Huh?”

Su Yu looked at Xia Qian Ge’s slender wrist for a moment, his sweaty palms rubbing against the fabric of his pants. He seemed hesitant, unsure of the reason for her sudden warmth.

Had Xia Qian Ge noticed his deliberate distancing, or was he just being too sensitive?

“Hey, you two, hurry up! Can you save the flirting for later?” Chen Kai, who was walking ahead, called out impatiently.

“Let’s go.”

Su Yu, still shaken, walked straight ahead, not even looking at Xia Qian Ge.

Her slender, white wrist remained suspended in mid-air, the charming smile still on her face, but her delicate fingers slowly curled into a fist, the veins on her hand becoming visible from the force.

The dry air quickly dried the sweat on his clothes, and Su Yu’s breathing gradually steadied. He suddenly remembered Xia Qian Ge behind him. He was about to turn around when the scent of gardenias brushed against his nose.

“Why did you stop?”

Su Yu realized Xia Qian Ge had caught up, walking just a step behind him. The girl’s smile was the same as always, but her cheeks were flushed an unnatural crimson.

“Did… did you hear what Chen Kai just said?” Xia Qian Ge continued to follow Su Yu, her lips pursed, asking cautiously.

“Chen Kai?” Su Yu frowned, instinctively repeating the words from his memory. “Chen Kai just said, let’s hurry up… and we can flirt outside…”

Su Yu abruptly stopped speaking because Xia Qian Ge’s face turned even redder.

“You heard it after all. Chen Kai is so annoying.”

Xia Qian Ge muttered, lightly stamping on Su Yu’s foot in mock anger. “Just forget it. I shouldn’t have come out with you two.”

The thoughts of an adolescent girl were on full display, the shyness born of innocence, pure and beautiful.

The girl hadn’t changed. His unfounded wariness seemed unnecessary after all. It was all an illusion, he thought.

Chapter 11: Little Fish

“Holy crap, how did you suddenly get so good at the game? And your grades are skyrocketing too. Be honest, are you cheating?”

Chen Kai clung to Su Yu, chattering incessantly. He was still obsessing over being crushed by Su Yu in their game last night. Through the computer screen, he suddenly felt like Su Yu had become a different person, drastically so.

“Just practiced a bit. It’s not that hard. I was just going easy on you before.”

Su Yu leaned back in his seat, feeling bored. He casually responded to Chen Kai. With exams approaching, the school was concerned about the tense atmosphere and its impact on the students’ performance, so they often held psychology lectures.

But Su Yu couldn’t focus. With only two or three weeks left until the gaokao, no one wanted to waste their time on this. Others worried about the unfinished practice problems on their desks, while Su Yu worried about…

He suddenly looked up. Xia Qian Ge was sitting in front of them, whispering something to a few girls. The girl covered her mouth and giggled from time to time. Her long, dark hair now reached past her neck, almost to her shoulders. And Su Yu liked long hair.

“Hello?” Chen Kai waved his hand in front of Su Yu’s face. “What are you looking at?”

“Nothing.”

Su Yu shook his head and shifted his gaze to the stage, where the lecturer was speaking passionately into the microphone.

“Looking at Xia Qian Ge?” Chen Kai lowered his voice, as she was sitting right in front of them. “Still thinking about her? You got third place in the weekly exam, just a little behind Xia Qian Ge. Really not going to try?”

Su Yu just shook his head, unsure himself. “Let’s talk after the exams.”

…

The lecture ended, but the exams continued. Su Yu returned to the classroom, and soon, class started again.

Su Yu rested his head on his desk, hoping to get some rest, when a notebook suddenly appeared in front of him. He looked up, meeting Xia Qian Ge’s gaze.

“There are a few problems I don’t understand.” Xia Qian Ge looked at him, her eyes, the eyes Su Yu had admired for so long, curving into crescents. “Can you explain them to me?”

Su Yu glanced at the problems in the notebook. Xia Qian Ge wasn’t good at physics, so she often asked him for help, as physics happened to be Su Yu’s forte.

“Of course.”

“Then… start from here.”

Xia Qian Ge nodded vigorously, leaning closer to Su Yu, pointing out the parts she didn’t understand.

“This problem…”

The problem wasn’t difficult for Su Yu, but his attention was divided. He could feel Xia Qian Ge close to him, her soft hair brushing against his neck, tickling him. The faint, pleasant fragrance that lingered around her was familiar, momentarily distracting him.

“Isn’t that wrong, Su Yu? Did you make a mistake here?”

“Huh?” Su Yu focused on the problem. He had indeed made a mistake. “Yeah, I explained this part wrong. It should be like this…”

“Su Yu, someone’s looking for you.”

Someone called out from the doorway. Su Yu looked up, his gaze fixed on the door. He saw He Mu Qing hiding behind the doorframe, her bright eyes staring at him.

“I’ll be right back. I’ll explain the rest of the problems later.” Su Yu glanced at Xia Qian Ge apologetically.

“Oh… it’s okay.”

Xia Qian Ge’s gaze shifted from the pretty girl at the door, a smile playing on her lips. She shook her head. “Go ahead, don’t keep her waiting.”

“Okay…”

For a moment, Su Yu wanted to explain something, but seeing the indifference in Xia Qian Ge’s eyes, he swallowed his words, put down his pen, and left the classroom.

…

“What’s up?”

Su Yu looked at He Mu Qing, who had suddenly come to find him. The He Mu Qing he knew never came to his class. Even when they went home together after school, they always met at the bus stop. Not many people in his class knew about their relationship, not even Xia Qian Ge until later.

“Just come with me.” He Mu Qing didn’t explain, grabbing his sleeve and pulling him towards the rooftop.

The senior classrooms were on the sixth floor, and the rooftop was just one floor up. Su Yu could feel the curious gazes of his classmates. A boy and a girl going to the rooftop together could only mean one thing. Su Yu hadn’t expected to attract attention this way.

As soon as they stepped onto the rooftop, He Mu Qing let go of his sleeve and turned to look at him, tears welling up in her eyes.

“What’s wrong?” Su Yu’s playful mood vanished. He noticed the redness around He Mu Qing’s eyes. “Why are you crying? You’re not a kid anymore.”

“My dad’s checkup… they found stomach cancer.”

He Mu Qing’s voice was soft, like the wind on the rooftop. Such an illness was like a demon, capable of tearing a family apart in an instant. She was still a naive girl, understandably afraid.

“Is it serious?”

“The doctor said they caught it early, and the chances of recovery are high. They told us not to worry too much.” He Mu Qing bit her lip, holding back her tears. “I don’t want to worry, but…”

“As long as it can be cured, it’s fine. You look better when you’re being fierce.” Su Yu patted He Mu Qing’s head.

“Don’t touch me, it’s annoying. And you’re still smiling.” He Mu Qing pushed his hand away, glaring at him. “My mom wants you to come over for dinner tonight. She wants to thank you.”

“Well, she should thank me.” Su Yu nodded seriously. “How about… you offer yourself as repayment?”

“Get lost, pervert.”

He Mu Qing glared at Su Yu, her eyes filled with more than just fierceness, even a hint of murderous intent. She punched him lightly on the shoulder and ran off…

Her voice, carried by the wind, reached Su Yu’s ears.

“You explained problems to Xia Qian Ge, so just marry her, you scumbag.”

…

“Do you still want to continue?”

Back in the classroom, Su Yu was in a good mood. Rebirth had given him the chance to change many things. He was no longer as powerless as before. He could change everything from his past life… but what about her? Su Yu was uncertain about the look in the girl’s eyes before his death, that obsessive madness… could it really be changed?

Su Yu looked at the notebook that had been taken back and asked Xia Qian Ge.

“No need, I’ve figured out the rest of the problems.” Xia Qian Ge turned around, staring at the smile on Su Yu’s lips. “Who was that girl just now?”

“Not a senior, just a friend.”

“Just a friend? I thought you were… dating.”

Su Yu just smiled. In the past, he would have stumbled over his words, trying to explain, but now he didn’t want to. If Xia Qian Ge misunderstood… perhaps that wasn’t a bad thing.

“I’m going back to my problems.”

Xia Qian Ge turned back and lowered her head to study. But for some reason, the sound she heard wasn’t the rustling of pen against paper, but the sharp scratch of nails against the cover of her book.

Why would a fish abandon the bait and jump out of the pond? The question wrapped around her heart like a thin silk thread, all pointing to the same answer.

He seemed… different.

Chapter 10: Future

Evening self-study in senior year always dragged on late. In the last few minutes, not many students were still focused on their studies. They were all waiting for the teacher to dismiss them, so they could drag their exhausted bodies home to rest.

“Class dismissed…”

As soon as the bell rang, the entire building erupted in noise. The late night was the liveliest time at school. Su Yu watched as they hurriedly packed their bags and rushed out of the classroom. He wasn’t in a hurry, because he had cleaning duty today. There was no point in rushing; he would need at least ten more minutes to finish cleaning before he could leave.

“See ya.”

“Yeah.”

Chen Kai said goodbye to Su Yu and left. They didn’t live in the same direction, so even though they were close, they always went their separate ways.

Su Yu looked at the mess left behind in the classroom and sighed. Senior year… was still so tiring.

“Su Yu, how should we split the cleaning?” Xia Qian Ge, who sat in front of him, suddenly turned around, looking at him.

“Huh? Us?”

Su Yu was taken aback. He remembered… it wasn’t Xia Qian Ge who was on cleaning duty with him today, but another boy in the class.

“Oh, I was supposed to be on duty tomorrow, but I have something to do, so I switched with the person on duty today,” Xia Qian Ge explained with a smile, seeing his confusion.

Another discrepancy? Su Yu began to doubt his own memories. Why were things unfolding differently from his previous life? Although they were small differences, they gave him a bad feeling.

“I see.” Su Yu’s expression remained unchanged. He looked at the faint smile on the girl’s lips but couldn’t detect anything amiss. “You can wipe the blackboard, I’ll mop the floor.”

“Can you manage by yourself?”

“It’s fine, I’m pretty quick.”

“Okay then. Su Yu…” Xia Qian Ge bit her lip, her eyes filled with unreadable emotions, seemingly wanting to say something but hesitating.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Let’s finish quickly and go home.”

Xia Qian Ge shook her head and turned back to her task.

The school’s liveliness faded quickly. Within minutes of the bell, almost everyone had left, only a few students on cleaning duty like them still lingering in the hallways.

Su Yu mopped the floor, his gaze fixed on Xia Qian Ge.

He couldn’t let go, not so easily. He watched as the girl stood on tiptoe, revealing her slender ankles, the edges of her socks adorned with delicate white butterfly lace.

Xia Qian Ge still seemed like the Xia Qian Ge in his memory, the girl who captivated his gaze, a star that had fallen into his otherwise ordinary life.

“Su Yu? What’s wrong?” Xia Qian Ge’s pleasant voice broke through his thoughts.

“Oh, nothing. Just a little tired.” Su Yu quickly averted his gaze, looking at the clean blackboard behind Xia Qian Ge. “I’m almost done here. We can go.”

“Okay, let’s go back then.” Xia Qian Ge nodded slightly, brushing aside a strand of hair that had stuck to her cheek from sweat. “If we’re any later… we’ll miss the bus.”

…

The school was exceptionally quiet at night. Only a few classrooms still had their lights on, almost everyone gone.

Su Yu and Xia Qian Ge walked side by side along the path leading to the school’s side gate. They were close, so close that Su Yu could smell a faint floral fragrance, like Xia Qian Ge’s own scent, or perhaps the lingering fragrance of gardenias that had withered a week ago in the woods.

“Your home is near Huatian Square, right?” Xia Qian Ge suddenly turned her head and asked Su Yu.

“Yeah, why?” Su Yu responded, puzzled. He didn’t know why she was asking. “I live there.”

“Then we should be going the same way. I often see you on the same bus as me, but it’s always so crowded, I never have time to say hello before you get off.”

“Same here.”

Su Yu subconsciously touched his neck. It wasn’t a coincidence that he and Xia Qian Ge took the same bus. Thinking about his childish behavior of deliberately waiting for her at the bus stop, he couldn’t help but feel embarrassed.

Silence fell between them. The faint chirping of insects mingled with the occasional meow of a cat. The night air was cool. Su Yu wasn’t the same person he used to be; he wouldn’t deliberately search for trivial topics just to talk to Xia Qian Ge.

They walked out of the school gate. Xia Qian Ge’s pace was slightly faster than Su Yu’s, as if worried about missing the bus. Su Yu followed behind. Under the dim yellow streetlights, her hair had a faint golden halo.

Xia Qian Ge suddenly turned around, her large eyes sparkling, a sweet smile on her face. Su Yu’s heart almost skipped a beat.

She always seemed to be smiling, but Su Yu had the illusion that her smile… seemed especially radiant in front of him.

“Su Yu, which university do you want to go to?”

“Huh? I…” Su Yu snapped back to reality, then paused for a long time, finally shaking his head. “I haven’t decided yet.”

Xia Qian Ge prompted him, “I think it’s better to decide these things sooner rather than later.”

“I know, I’ll think about it.” Su Yu scratched his head and smiled. “What about you? Where do you want to go?”

“Me?” Xia Qian Ge chuckled, answering without hesitation. “I’m going to Jiangnan.”

Su Yu already knew this answer and wasn’t surprised. He had asked Xia Qian Ge the same question before, but that was after the gaokao.

“I see. Your grades should be good enough.”

“Yours aren’t bad either, Su Yu. Your scores have been improving with each weekly test. Everyone in class thinks you’ve suddenly become a genius.”

“I…”

Su Yu suddenly wanted to tell Xia Qian Ge that he wasn’t going to Jiangnan. Qingchuan was far, far away from Jiangnan. They might never see each other again.

“The bus is here.”

Xia Qian Ge looked past Su Yu and suddenly grabbed his sleeve, pulling him towards the approaching bus.

“Here!” Xia Qian Ge waved at Su Yu from the back of the bus. There was an empty seat next to her.

Su Yu, still slightly dazed, instinctively moved through the crowd and sat beside her.

Even though they had seen each other on the bus before, Su Yu had never sat next to Xia Qian Ge like this. Back then, he hadn’t dared, afraid she wouldn’t want him to.

It all felt like a dream. Just by changing a few of his past choices, he could easily do things he had never imagined before.

“Ugh, I’m so tired.” Xia Qian Ge’s still-youthful chest rose and fell slightly, a light sheen of sweat on her forehead. “I’ll rest for a bit. Wake me up when we get to your stop, Su Yu.”

“Okay.”

The bus moved quickly in the late night. The lights outside flashed by, outlining the silhouettes of skyscrapers in the distance under the neon glow. It all felt like a dream.

But Su Yu could hear the girl’s soft breathing beside him. The girl he had longed for was sitting next to him. It all felt so real. When the bus bumped, her head even leaned against his shoulder.

“It’s not too late. It’s not too late until he fills out his university application,” the thought suddenly appeared in Su Yu’s mind, startling him.

After Su Yu got off, Xia Qian Ge waved goodbye through the window, but the smile that had played on her lips was gone.

She watched the boy’s figure disappear into the night, a few drops of ink staining her bright, spring-water-like eyes. The ink slowly spread, like darkness seeping into her pupils, revealing a coldness, a darkness, and… a hint of disappointment.

Chapter 9: Profile

Su Yu returned the letter and gift to the boy who had confessed. Watching the undisguised dejection and disappointment in the boy’s eyes, Su Yu felt a pang of familiarity. If he had confessed last night, he might have looked the same.

“What’s your relationship with Xia Qian Ge?”

The boy gripped the envelope tightly, staring at Su Yu, clearly misunderstanding something.

“Xia Qian Ge and I…” Su Yu hesitated for a moment before answering, “We sit near each other. We’re classmates.”

“Sorry, I got a little carried away.” The boy glanced at the gift box in his hands, which Su Yu had discreetly returned, probably to spare him embarrassment. “Thanks.”

“No problem.”

On the way back, Su Yu seemed preoccupied. Human nature was such that even though he wanted to distance himself, he was nervous about the possibility of Xia Qian Ge accepting someone else’s confession.

In his previous life, it hadn’t been Su Yu who returned the gift and letter, but Xia Qian Ge herself. This change could only be attributed to the fact that Su Yu hadn’t confessed. As for why it had to be him who returned them this time, Su Yu didn’t know.

The butterfly effect was a chain reaction. His small decisions could influence future outcomes.

Back in the classroom, Xia Qian Ge quietly thanked Su Yu, then turned back to her practice problems. She had experienced this kind of thing so many times that it barely fazed her anymore. Why would such a dazzling, sought-after girl… agree to be with him later? Su Yu was increasingly puzzled.

…

As evening approached, the setting sun painted the sky in hues of blood, casting a crimson glow into the classroom.

The afternoon’s lectures and exercises had drained the class of any remaining enthusiasm for studying. Senior year was like a relentless machine, and they had to keep pace, or they would be left far behind.

Su Yu rested his head on his desk. He had just helped his deskmate with a few problems and was feeling tired. His deskmate was a shy girl, short, probably only around 155cm tall. Her timid voice and large, black-framed glasses made her look particularly adorable. Su Yu always thought she resembled a fluffy white marshmallow, tempting him to reach out and squeeze her.

Unfortunately… no matter how cute the girl was, she hadn’t piqued Su Yu’s interest back then. In his previous life, his eyes had only seen Xia Qian Ge.

Xia Qian Ge was still working on problems, seemingly practicing English listening comprehension. Su Yu watched her from his desk. This had been his habit before—when tired of studying, his first instinct wasn’t to look into the distance to relax, but to tilt his head and stare at Xia Qian Ge’s delicate profile.

The setting sun cast a golden glow on her snow-white skin, making her look like a piece of fine jade bathed in cool moonlight, captivating his gaze.

“Hey, wanna go for a walk?”

Chen Kai appeared out of nowhere, putting his arm around Su Yu’s shoulder and nudging him with his elbow. In the past, Su Yu would have playfully wrestled with Chen Kai until Xia Qian Ge noticed the commotion, glanced back at him with a smile, and then returned to her work. Just that one glance would have satisfied him.

“Let’s go, I’m hungry anyway.”

This time, Su Yu simply nodded. He and Chen Kai left the classroom quietly, so discreetly that even his deskmate, absorbed in her problems, didn’t notice his departure.

But the moment he disappeared through the back door, the thin white earphone wire slipped from Xia Qian Ge’s slender, pale neck. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, and faint blue veins appeared on her jade-like skin in the setting sun, lingering for a moment before fading away.

…

“One more month, and we’re outta here.”

Chen Kai and Su Yu strolled around the track, digesting their dinner.

Hearing Chen Kai’s sigh, Su Yu just smiled. The track was mostly filled with younger students. He watched as a dust-covered soccer ball soared through the air, past the defense, and into the goal, followed by a roar of cheers that echoed across the field.

The youthful energy wasn’t diminished even by the setting sun. Sweat glistened on the track. This was youth, and he had experienced it once before.

“You seem different…” Chen Kai stroked his chin, studying Su Yu carefully. “You’re quieter. Are you worried about the gaokao?”

“Aren’t you worried?”

“Nah, I’ve already got the grades for the university I want. You, on the other hand… Xia Qian Ge’s aiming for the top, her scores are sky-high.”

“I…” Su Yu looked at the setting sun; the sky had completely darkened. “I’m not planning on applying to the same university as her.”

“What?” Chen Kai exclaimed, his eyes wide. “You’re kidding, right, Su Yu? Weren’t you… completely smitten with Xia Qian Ge?”

“People change. I don’t want to exhaust myself.”

“Then… where are you applying?”

“Qingchuan. I want to be further away from home. I heard the scenery is beautiful there.”

“Qingchuan University’s entrance requirements are pretty high, too. If you work hard, you might still get into the same university as Xia Qian Ge.”

“When I was chasing her, you told me to give up. Now you’re telling me to keep going. What’s up with you?” Su Yu glanced at Chen Kai, speechless.

“Of course I want you to succeed. You’ve liked her for almost three years, you can’t just forget her like that. You… you have to try one last time before graduation. If you fail, then go to Qingchuan.”

“I’ve made up my mind. Even if I still like her… I’ll just keep it to myself.” Su Yu smiled, but the curve of his lips was strained. “It’s for the best, for both of us.”

“Don’t—” Chen Kai suddenly tugged on Su Yu’s arm, interrupting him. “Xia Qian Ge is behind us.”

“Huh?”

Su Yu raised his eyebrows and turned around. He saw Xia Qian Ge and her best friend not far behind them—the girl who had said he wasn’t good enough for Xia Qian Ge. She was from Class 2, and Su Yu wasn’t very familiar with her yet.

Their eyes met. Su Yu smiled and waved in greeting.

Xia Qian Ge rarely came down to the track. At least, in Su Yu’s memory, she rarely, if ever, did.

“You’re the guy who returned the gift for Qian Ge, right? I saw you today. Not bad.” Lin Siyi’s large eyes darted around, her tone teasing. “Just don’t steal what you’re supposed to be returning.”

“Stop talking nonsense.”

Xia Qian Ge nudged Lin Siyi and looked apologetically at Su Yu. “Sorry about that. This is Lin Siyi, my best friend. She always talks nonsense.”

“It’s okay… just a joke.”

Su Yu took another look at Lin Siyi. She seemed like a completely different person from the one who had aggressively told him to leave Xia Qian Ge alone. Now they talked about ideals; later, they would talk about reality. It turned out… people really did change, becoming almost unrecognizable.

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Author’s Note

(The plot is moving slowly at the moment, not sure if you guys like it or not. Personally, I prefer more buildup before the climax, a slower burn. Plus, I think the current plot is pretty good, a kind of homage to my high school days.)

Chapter 8: With Her

“Su Yu, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and get back to your seat.”

Su Yu slowly withdrew his gaze, glanced at his homeroom teacher, whom he had blocked at the door, and quickly stepped aside with an apologetic smile. Then… he walked step by step towards his seat.

He sat diagonally behind the girl. If he reached out, he could touch her shoulder.

As Su Yu approached his seat, he drew closer to the girl. The homeroom teacher’s question had obviously caught her attention. The girl looked up at Su Yu, their eyes meeting briefly before quickly looking away.

The girl lowered her head and continued reading, and Su Yu returned to his seat.

“Let’s start morning reading. Starting today, there’s only one month left. You don’t have to attend the flag-raising ceremony anymore.” The homeroom teacher stood at the podium, encouraging the students. “Just hold on for another month, and then the sky’s the limit. Everyone, work hard.”

After the teacher finished speaking, the noisy sound of morning reading filled the classroom. However, only a few energetic students were contributing to the noise; most were secretly dozing behind their books.

“Su Yu, there’s homework due today. You came late, you’re the only one left.”

The girl in front of him suddenly turned around, her big eyes looking at Su Yu, inquiring about his homework.

“Huh? Xia Qian Ge… your hair is so short.”

Su Yu stared at the girl, such a familiar face. Even the ugly school uniform couldn’t hide her beauty. Without makeup, she was still the most beautiful gardenia this summer. But Su Yu wasn’t used to it. After college, Xia Qian Ge always had shoulder-length hair. In high school, she still had youthful short hair.

“Hmm?” Xia Qian Ge furrowed her brows, touching the ends of her hair. “I cut it a bit shorter yesterday. Does it look bad?”

“No.” Su Yu shook his head, speaking sincerely. “It looks good, really good.”

“Flattery won’t work. Didn’t you do your homework?” Xia Qian Ge’s eyes narrowed, immediately grasping the main point. She stared at Su Yu.

“Uh…”

Su Yu touched his neck. Of course, he hadn’t done it. He hadn’t been in the mood for homework yesterday. He honestly admitted, “I didn’t do it.”

“As expected… you were still playing truth or dare yesterday?” Xia Qian Ge puffed out her cheeks, every expression familiar to Su Yu. She stared at him. “But you promised me you would work hard.”

“Next time… I’ll definitely do it next time.”

“Fine, I won’t report your name this time.”

Xia Qian Ge seemed to be just asking. She turned back and continued reading.

But Su Yu still sat there in a daze. In high school, since Xia Qian Ge sat diagonally in front of him, they naturally interacted often. But their conversations were usually limited to school matters, which gave Su Yu the idea to confess.

From Su Yu’s current perspective, his high school self clearly had no redeeming qualities that could attract Xia Qian Ge. His confession… was no different from a moth flying into a flame.

Xia Qian Ge wouldn’t fall for his high school self. As long as their paths diverged in college, they would be parallel lines that never intersected.

Morning reading ended. The subject teacher walked into the classroom, carrying stacks of test papers. Senior year revision consisted of endless practice questions.

Su Yu twirled his pen between his fingers. He was no longer the naive high school boy. Now, his mind was filled with too many things. Looking at the complicated questions, he couldn’t focus.

Su Yu knew Xia Qian Ge would go to a good university, so he had worked tirelessly in his senior year to catch up and get into the same university as her.

But what about this time? Su Yu looked at the questions on the test paper. He actually knew how to do them all. It seemed like fate was playing a trick on him. Su Yu’s memories of high school knowledge were exceptionally clear. He had thought that years of working had made him forget these things, but his rebirth had brought them all back.

This meant that Su Yu, knowing the exam questions, could definitely get into the university Xia Qian Ge wanted to attend. This was a choice, leaving Su Yu no excuse. His rebirth needed to prove its worth through these choices.

Su Yu couldn’t bring himself to look at the questions any longer. The lecture on the test paper continued until noon, the oppressive atmosphere hanging over the classroom like a spiderweb.

Su Yu glanced at Xia Qian Ge. She was correcting the test she had just completed. Su Yu watched her slender eyebrows furrow and relax, clearly dissatisfied with her accuracy.

“Class dismissed. Get a good rest. This afternoon, we’ll go over the questions on this practice test.”

The teacher left with the test papers, opening the door and letting fresh air into the stuffy classroom. Sighs of relief rippled through the room. Students left in groups, hurrying to eat lunch before their break ended.

“Su Yu, are you going to lunch?”

Someone patted Su Yu’s shoulder. Su Yu didn’t need to look up to know who it was.

“I don’t feel like it… I’ll just have some bread later.” Su Yu shook his head, declining the offer.

“Seriously?” Chen Kai was clearly unhappy. He looked at Xia Qian Ge, who had her back to them, and raised his eyebrows at Su Yu. “Didn’t work out? Heartbroken?”

“I didn’t confess, I was joking with you.”

“You’re lying, bro.”

Chen Kai pouted. He would have been happy if Su Yu had succeeded, but… the chances were too slim. He wasn’t optimistic about Su Yu’s chances, and it was better that he hadn’t confessed now; at least they could still be friends.

“Mu Qing knows too. You can betray your bro, but I can’t?” Su Yu looked up at Chen Kai.

“Hehe…” Chen Kai chuckled awkwardly, feeling guilty. “He Mu Qing… she bought me some food and promised to introduce me to a girl in her class. I lost my mind for a moment and…”

“Get lost. If you feel bad, buy me some bread.”

“Okay, I’ll go now…”

Chen Kai suddenly looked towards the door, where there was some commotion. He mumbled, “Damn, someone’s confessing. The sports rep from Class 2, I think. He’s pretty handsome, almost as handsome as me.”

The other students in the class predictably looked towards Xia Qian Ge. She was still looking down, checking the questions she had gotten wrong. If someone walked into Class 1 with flowers and gifts, the recipient would undoubtedly be the girl sitting diagonally in front of Su Yu… Xia Qian Ge.

Su Yu wasn’t surprised. In the original timeline, the day after his failed confession, which was today, someone had also come to Xia Qian Ge with a gift.

The boy’s attire was clearly carefully chosen. He walked quickly towards Su Yu’s side and stopped in front of Xia Qian Ge’s desk.

“Actually, I’ve been paying attention to you for a long time. The college entrance exams are coming up…” Under everyone’s gaze, the boy looked nervous, his prepared words coming out jumbled. “There’s a letter in the flowers, please read it.”

The boy dropped his last sentence and left, leaving behind a chorus of teasing.

Xia Qian Ge stopped writing, glanced at the flowers and gift box practically thrown on her desk, then looked back at Su Yu and Chen Kai with a puzzled expression, seemingly wanting to ask something.

“I’m going to buy bread. Let Su Yu explain.” Chen Kai chuckled, patted Su Yu’s shoulder, and slipped out the back of the classroom.

Xia Qian Ge’s gaze naturally fixed on Su Yu. Su Yu smiled and shrugged. “It’s from the guy next door, in Class 2. I forgot his name, he’s the sports rep. Pretty handsome…”

Xia Qian Ge didn’t speak. She looked at Su Yu intently, then suddenly turned back. Beneath Su Yu’s seemingly indifferent expression, his heart was pounding.

“Can you return this to him for me? My reply is in the letter.”

“O-Okay.”

Su Yu looked at the letter in Xia Qian Ge’s hand. Her reply was written on the envelope. Su Yu could easily see the delicate handwriting. He saw that Xia Qian Ge had rejected the boy’s confession.

Su Yu took the letter from Xia Qian Ge, his racing heart finally calming down.

Chapter 7: Old Scenery

The morning alarm jolted Su Yu awake. Thankfully, he hadn’t had any nightmares, but he was still drowsy, not used to waking up early.

Su Yu ruffled his messy hair, thinking he should probably get a haircut soon, and went to the bathroom to wash up.

He felt the familiar urgency of his student days again, as if every second counted. Su Yu watched the time, the routine both foreign and familiar. As his memories returned, his movements became smoother. He quickly finished his morning routine, grabbed his bag, and stood at the door, slowly closing it behind him.

Standing in the doorway, gazing at the old scenery, he hadn’t had time to reminisce yesterday. But now, standing in the morning light of the hallway, looking at the unchanged, old corridor, his eyes couldn’t help but well up.

A lifetime filled with too many regrets, reliving it was something everyone had fantasized about. If given such a chance, he wouldn’t repeat his mistakes.

Su Yu checked his phone. It was a few minutes earlier than usual. He wasn’t in a hurry, so he waited at the door.

“You’re early today.”

A voice came from upstairs. Su Yu looked up and saw He Mu Qing coming down. He thought he was prepared, but he still froze for a moment.

It was Monday, flag-raising ceremony day, and even senior year students couldn’t escape it. So, He Mu Qing wasn’t wearing her favorite dress but the dull school uniform. The cool morning sunlight filtered through the old building’s worn-out grids. Green ivy climbed up the stone pillars, and the sunlight, tinted green by the leaves, fell on the girl’s high ponytail, bobbing with each step. She liked to wear her hair in a ponytail when she wasn’t in a dress.

Dust motes danced in the sunlight, as if adding a nostalgic filter to He Mu Qing. Su Yu found it familiar yet couldn’t tear his gaze away.

“Dummy, what are you looking at?”

He Mu Qing reached Su Yu’s side before he knew it, poking his forehead with a slender finger. “You’ve been acting strange since yesterday. Did you confess to Xia Qian Ge after all and got rejected, and now you’re losing your mind?”

“We’re going to be late… let’s go.”

Su Yu ignored He Mu Qing’s teasing and headed downstairs first.

“It’s still early, how could we be late? Why are you walking so fast?” He Mu Qing called out from behind, catching up and walking beside him. “What are we having for breakfast?”

“Let’s… let’s have steamed buns.” Su Yu thought for a moment and replied.

“Steamed buns? Same as always then.” He Mu Qing nodded. “You go buy the buns, I’ll get the soy milk. Meet at the bus stop.”

“Okay.”

Listening to this conversation, identical to the past, Su Yu felt his eyes welling up again.

“Hey, why are you crying…” He Mu Qing was startled by the sudden tears in Su Yu’s eyes. She took out a tissue and handed it to him. “It’s just a rejection, isn’t it? Don’t you boys always say there are plenty of fish in the sea? Why are you being so pathetic?”

“Got some dust in my eye. It’s windy this morning.” Su Yu smiled and took the tissue. “I told you I didn’t confess. Don’t ruin my reputation.”

“Haha, I’m going. You just keep crying.”

He Mu Qing made a face and left Su Yu behind. He slowly followed, a smile he couldn’t suppress playing on his lips.

…

For a long time after starting high school, they went to school together like this, dividing the breakfast duties, then quickly eating while waiting for the bus, rushing onto the arriving bus. Su Yu would then pull He Mu Qing through the crowd to find her a good seat.

But today they were lucky and grabbed a window seat for two. The morning sun was dazzling, casting a rainbow halo through the scratched bus window.

He Mu Qing dozed off, her head gradually resting on Su Yu’s shoulder as the bus bumped along. Su Yu stared out the window, lost in thought. The familiar street scenes drifted past: the stationery store, the food stalls… and He Mu Qing’s favorite milk tea shop. Su Yu still remembered her favorite mango pudding from that shop.

He had taken this route countless times, but only now did it feel new. His gaze followed the messy electrical wires stretching along the elevated road until he saw a familiar bronze plaque with a few large characters, worn by wind and sand: Yangming High School.

“I’m going. I have to prepare for the flag-raising ceremony. Study hard, okay? Only one month left until the exams.”

“I know, even my mom isn’t this nagging.”

Su Yu and He Mu Qing parted ways at the school gate. He Mu Qing was the flag bearer for the national flag team and had to go to the field early on Mondays to prepare for the ceremony. Su Yu also attended the Monday flag-raising ceremonies. He often saw the slightly neurotic girl solemnly carrying the flag onto the stage, her high ponytail swaying with her steps. He had never imagined that the girl who loved to wear dresses could also have such a heroic side.

He Mu Qing was truly beautiful. Su Yu often saw photos of her during the flag-raising ceremony on the school’s confession wall, people asking for her name and class, or directly confessing their feelings. But in three years of high school, Su Yu had never heard of He Mu Qing having any romantic involvement with any boy.

She didn’t seem interested in such things. She preferred to talk to Su Yu about new dessert shops and their delicious mango pudding, though none could compare to the one near their homes.

Lost in memories, Su Yu unknowingly followed the crowd into the teaching building. His senior year classroom was on the sixth floor. But even after climbing the stairs with his heavy backpack, he was only slightly out of breath. If it were before, he would have been sweating and panting.

Su Yu remembered the way. He needed to go straight, then turn left, pass the restrooms, and finally find his classroom at the west corner: Class 1, Grade 12, the top class in Yangming High School.

The short walk felt long to Su Yu. Compared to waking up at home, stepping into the classroom filled him with a sense of trepidation.

He turned left, passed the restrooms, and walked west. Then he saw a wooden door with a slightly rusty sign: Class 1, Grade 12.

Su Yu’s breathing quickened involuntarily. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest. One step… two steps…

Su Yu entered the classroom just as the bell rang. The teacher hadn’t arrived yet, and the classroom was filled with noise, a cacophony of sounds and moving figures. Not him… not her. Su Yu didn’t immediately look for his seat. His eyes scanned the room, finally settling… and then the surrounding chaos faded, leaving only her.

The girl was different, seemingly not in the same world as the surrounding noise. She sat quietly in the faint sunlight, reading a book. It wasn’t a textbook, but Eileen Chang’s Love in a Fallen City. Su Yu remembered everything about her clearly.

He met her again, just like the first time. Back then, he didn’t know what kind of story would unfold between them in the future.

But this time… he still didn’t know.

Chapter 6: Confession

“Get out, get out, get out! Don’t come to my house again, you’re not welcome!”

“No, Mu Qing, listen to me—”

…

Su Yu was shoved out of the He family home, the door slamming shut in his face. He glanced at the familiar iron door, plastered with small advertisements, the smile slowly fading from his face.

He had been truly happy, so much so that he spoke without thinking. Teasing He Mu Qing was just a way to confirm things, to make the scenes from his memories replay before his eyes. The sense of unreality after his rebirth finally began to dissipate. This wasn’t a dream. From now on, he could live his life again.

His rebirth was a fact, but once he accepted it, the issue of He Mu Qing reminded him of the face etched in his pupils before his death. The shadows of those days haunted him like a persistent curse. Remembering his imprisonment, a cold sweat dampened his back.

Xia Qian Ge… the woman he had loved for so long. When did she become so mad and obsessive? Was the current Xia Qian Ge still the one he knew?

…

Su Yu went downstairs and back to his apartment. Entering his room, he saw his phone still on the desk and suddenly remembered the message.

Listening to the clear beat of his heart, he slowly unlocked his phone. There was a message from a little while ago. Xia Qian Ge had replied.

“It’s okay. But the college entrance exams are coming up, Su Yu, do you still have time to play these games? You should work hard and focus.”

Su Yu stared at the message, his eyes flickering with uncertainty. But in the end, he sighed in relief, a weight lifting from his heart. What he feared hadn’t happened.

The Xia Qian Ge in his memories was an exceptionally pure girl. Even her casual smiles and frowns were as sweet as the clear spring water in the mountains.

Her profile picture was a clumsy-looking Psyduck, the chat bubbles were pink clouds, and the font was a wobbly, rounded one. Everything was as beautiful as it was back then, that purity so alluring to an adolescent boy.

“Thanks, I will. You too.”

Su Yu replied, his tone neutral. No matter what Xia Qian Ge was like now, he should keep his distance. Perhaps if he stayed away, the tragedy wouldn’t happen.

Xia Qian Ge didn’t reply immediately. The empty chat box remained silent. Su Yu remembered how he used to avoid leaving his phone on his desk because he couldn’t resist checking it whenever a notification sounded. If it was a message from her, he would drop his pen and reply instantly. If not… he would be disappointed, doodling meaningless scribbles on his homework, losing his motivation to study.

But now, Su Yu just glanced at it and didn’t wait, getting up to take a shower.

…

In the bathroom, Su Yu turned on the shower. The steaming hot water poured down, soaking his hair, which he hadn’t cut in a while due to his busy senior year schedule. His vision blurred, the steam quickly filling the small bathroom, creating a hazy illusion.

The illusion was tinted with a rose-colored filter. Su Yu saw himself holding Xia Qian Ge’s hand, walking along the tree-lined school path. The girl leaned gently on his shoulder, a shy smile on her lips. The pure beauty of youth formed the backdrop of the illusion.

He couldn’t help but ask himself, if he rekindled their love, nurtured it carefully, would their ending be different?

The question still lingered in his heart. People always couldn’t help but fantasize about unrealistic things. But he wasn’t sure… and he didn’t dare to gamble.

Su Yu dried his wet hair with a towel and returned to his desk. Xia Qian Ge had just replied to his message.

“Okay, let’s both work hard.”

Lying in bed, Su Yu scrolled up through his chat history with Xia Qian Ge. Back then, he had been so clueless, racking his brains for topics just to exchange a few insignificant words with her, yet he could be happy for a long time.

He quickly reached the top of the chat log. Su Yu read every message Xia Qian Ge had sent him, but he couldn’t find any signs. The current Xia Qian Ge still seemed like a clear pool of water, untainted by ink. She was still Xia Qian Ge, pure… transparent.

The lack of evidence was the biggest evidence. Su Yu’s long bangs cast a shadow over his eyes. This proved one thing, just like the woman had said, it was him… who had killed Xia Qian Ge, a person named Su Yu.

“From the moment I fell in love with you… there was no saving me…”

The woman’s voice echoed in Su Yu’s ears. The sensation of the blade piercing his flesh resurfaced in his chest. It was a reminder. Would he repeat the same mistakes in this life?

When did Xia Qian Ge fall in love with him? Su Yu of the previous life hadn’t figured that out either. His seemingly hopeless pursuit in college had received a response from Xia Qian Ge when he was about to give up. That day, he had run countless laps around the school track in joy.

Su Yu initially thought it was out of guilt, but he could see the deep love in her eyes, something that couldn’t be faked.

If it was during his freshman year that he made Xia Qian Ge fall for him, then the best way to stay away from her was undoubtedly to not attend the same university. Their relationship wouldn’t change because of this pointless truth-or-dare confession, and Xia Qian Ge would gradually forget everything.

“Are you still awake?”

The profile picture flickered. Another message from Xia Qian Ge. Su Yu frowned. Xia Qian Ge rarely asked him such meaningless questions in high school. In fact, she wasn’t very enthusiastic towards him back then, just friendly as classmates, treating him no differently than others.

Unfortunately, Su Yu hadn’t understood this before. The most common fantasy of adolescent boys was that “that girl must like me.” Back then, he always felt that Xia Qian Ge treated him specially, even taking an obvious excuse like “I’m going to take a shower” as a sign of her interest.

Had his lack of confession tonight affected the original course of events?

“Yeah, not yet.”

“Oh, then go to sleep soon. We have morning reading tomorrow.”

“I will, going to sleep now.”

“Good night.”

Su Yu stared at the words “good night” for a long time. His small action could really change so many things. This was the butterfly effect in action. They reminded Su Yu to cut ties quickly.

“Good night.”

Su Yu placed his phone beside his bed. As he turned off the light, he glanced at the calendar hanging on the wall. Each cross marked a day gone by. He marked a large cross on the 5th. After today, there was only one month left until the college entrance exam.