Category: I Don’t Want to Be Reborn With You

Chapter 19: A Night of Tranquility

One of the most common activities for young couples nowadays was watching movies. Of course, it wasn’t just couples who watched movies. If you couldn’t find a partner, a few friends of the same gender could often make do and go together. However, the latter scenario seemed particularly pathetic. Since he had promised Chen Jianing to fulfill her wish of experiencing a relationship, Lu Li had to take it seriously. He found a few DVDs, planning to watch a movie with Chen Jianing that night – assuming her brain hadn’t been completely fried by the fever.

Speaking of which, DVDs were already a relic of the past. It was surprising that the hotel still had a DVD player and discs. Lu Li even saw a huge gramophone in a corner of the lobby.

After dinner, Lu Li called the teacher in charge of the Chuanhai No. 1 High School team and learned that the school had sent a helicopter to “rescue” the stranded students. The helicopter was expected to arrive in Chuanhai City next Friday. Only Chuanhai No. 1 High School could pull something like this off. Lu Li declined to evacuate with the other students, repeatedly assuring the teacher that he was fine. The teacher reluctantly agreed. Although Lu Li missed Sister Yameng, Chu Jingyi, and An Baili, there was still a pitiful little tiger who needed him. He wouldn’t leave until Chen Jianing was properly taken care of.

Chen Jianing fell into a deep sleep after taking her fever medicine. When she woke up again, it was past one in the morning. Her sleep quality wasn’t good, and she hadn’t rested well. The TV was on, playing an action movie. The protagonist was fighting a group of thugs, and at the end, he struck a dramatic pose, declaring, “All evil will be brought to justice!” Her gaze shifted to the left, and she saw Lu Li curled up on the sofa, watching TV.

“You haven’t left yet?” Chen Jianing had become accustomed to seeing Lu Li the moment she woke up.

“I was worried you’d kick off the blanket again.” Lu Li lowered the TV volume. “Did the TV wake you up?”

“No.” The little tiger shook her head, staring blankly at Lu Li.

“What are you looking at me for?”

“You’re so ugly.” Chen Jianing suddenly laughed, revealing her small tiger teeth.

“I’m sorry you have to see such an ugly man.” Lu Li laughed too.

“It’s okay, I’m not too picky, I can barely accept it.”

“Want to watch a movie together? Couples always watch movies.”

Chen Jianing was tempted. She turned to face Lu Li. “What movie? I don’t want to watch a horror movie.”

Chu Jingyi loved watching horror movies, like The Grudge, White Day: A Labyrinth Named School, Final Destination, The Ring, and The Sixth Sense. She had watched them countless times. Besides Chu Jingyi, he didn’t know any other girls who liked horror movies.

“No action movies either. Fighting and killing is so boring.”

“No romance movies either. All that lovey-dovey stuff is too cheesy.”

Lu Li covered her mouth. “Let’s watch a documentary, Planet Earth. It’s about animals.”

“Okay, okay, let’s watch a documentary.” Chen Jianing’s eyebrows raised happily. She loved animals and wished she could have a whole bunch of cats and dogs. For dogs, she wanted a short-legged Corgi, a gentle Golden Retriever, and a handsome German Shepherd. No Chihuahuas, they were ugly and fierce. For cats, she wanted a British Shorthair with golden gradient fur, an American Shorthair with cheese-colored fur, and a Siamese. “Do you like pets?”

“Yes, I like quiet pets.” Lu Li said.

“Do you think Corgis are quiet? Do you want to get one?”

“Dogs are all noisy.”

“What about cats?”

“Cats are okay. Tabby cats are good, they’re well-behaved and independent, don’t need much attention.”

“I want to have a whole bunch of cats and dogs.” Chen Jianing’s eyes were shining with hope and happiness. “But I don’t want to scoop poop, it’s smelly. The happiest thing would be to have a bunch of little animals wake me up every morning.”

“If you don’t scoop poop, your house will stink.”

“You can scoop it for me.” Chen Jianing said without thinking. After saying that, she suddenly fell silent. She had been imagining a beautiful life, and she subconsciously put Lu Li in the role of her husband. She felt a bit awkward and shy, both anticipating and fearing his reaction.

Lu Li just nodded calmly. “Okay, I’ll scoop it.” When they were roommates in his past life, Chen Jianing had a big orange cat. This girl only cared about petting the cat, not taking care of it. The poor orange cat remained slim for almost a year. Finally, Lu Li couldn’t stand it anymore and took over, allowing the poor cat to eat its fill.

The documentary started playing on TV. The first episode was about wolf mates. Wolves were similar to humans, they only had one mate at a time. Only after the death of their mate would they look for another. The old wolf in the documentary lost his wife in a blizzard and was separated from his pack. He wandered off alone, like a lost soul, disappearing into the snowstorm. In this blinding blizzard, a lame old wolf wouldn’t get far.

Chen Jianing’s eyes welled up. “That’s so sad… Lu Li, why are there natural disasters? Like epidemics, blizzards, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions…”

Lu Li wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes. “It’s the law of nature. We humans are just a tiny part of the world. What we consider natural disasters are just everyday events for nature.”

“Lu Li…”

“Hmm?”

“Can you tell me about your past relationships?” Chen Jianing snuggled under the blanket, only her head peeking out.

This question was actually a death trap for boyfriends. Answering too simply would make him seem insincere and insecure. Answering in too much detail would make the girl angry. If he wanted to lie, he could simply say, “They were just childish flings.” This answer was very effective for both men and women.

“Just ordinary relationships, nothing special to talk about.” It was indeed an ordinary but happy love, at least before they got married.

“That girl… was she pretty?” Chen Jianing assumed it was just a playful high school or middle school romance. She felt a bit uncomfortable, but tried not to dwell on it.

“Very pretty.”

Chen Jianing felt even more uncomfortable. “Prettier than me? Taller than me? Better figure than me?”

Lu Li was about to say “Better than you in every way,” but remembering that he was now Chen Jianing’s boyfriend, he changed his answer. “Not as pretty as you, not as good a figure as you.” Even though she knew Lu Li was just coaxing her, Chen Jianing still felt sweet inside. She smiled, revealing her teeth. “Of course, I’ve always been the school beauty~ You got a great deal.”

What school beauty is this shorty talking about? This little tiger was flattering herself again.

After watching the documentary for a while longer, Chen Jianing’s eyelids drooped. “Lu Li… I’m a little sleepy… a little cold… Can you close the window?”

Lu Li looked at the window. It was tightly shut, not open at all. He put his arm around Chen Jianing, his heart filled with sadness. “Okay, get some rest, I’ll close the window for you.”

“Mmm…” She closed her eyes, her breathing uneven. Lu Li turned off the TV, walked to the window, and pretended to fiddle with it for a while. The room was heated, how could she feel cold? It was clear that her condition had worsened. He sat back on the edge of the bed, planning to keep watch over the little tiger. He heard Chen Jianing ask with her eyes closed, “Lu Li… Aren’t you going to sleep?”

Lu Li held the girl’s small hand, which was ice-cold, under the blanket. “You go to sleep, I’ll go back later.”

“Okay… You should get some rest too…”

“Yes.”

“…Lu Li…”

“I’m here.”

“…I hate you.”

“I don’t hate you.”

“Hehe…” Chen Jianing let out a few contented chuckles, her breathing gradually becoming steady. Silence fell over the room. Chen Jianing seemed to have fallen asleep. In the darkness, only Lu Li remained awake, his mind heavy with worry.

Chapter 18: Boyfriend and Girlfriend

“Go-good morning.” The next morning, as soon as Lu Li pushed open the door to Chen Jianing’s room, he heard her greet him. This was a rare occurrence. Chen Jianing was not a polite girl, rarely taking the initiative to greet anyone. If she encountered someone she knew on the street, she would just lower her head and pretend not to see them.

“Did you take your medicine?” Lu Li touched Chen Jianing’s forehead. It didn’t seem as hot anymore.

Chen Jianing uncomfortably dodged his hand. “I already greeted you, why didn’t you answer me?”

“Good morning.” Lu Li said perfunctorily.

“Is this how boyfriends are?”

“How?”

“Indifferent and aloof.”

Lu Li paused, puzzled. “Then what do you want?”

“I read online that boyfriends usually dote on their girlfriends and speak to them gently.”

“Don’t believe everything you read online.” Lu Li took out the breakfast. Today’s breakfast included salad, steamed sponge cake, and freshly squeezed juice. “Am I not gentle enough with you usually?”

He was gentle enough. But it felt like it shouldn’t be just that. Chen Jianing looked at Lu Li’s face. Somehow, Lu Li was the kind of boy who made her feel insecure. She always felt that he would be equally gentle with any other girl. Thinking about this made her chest tighten. Didn’t Lu Li like her? Then he should show a little more sincerity…

While poking at the salad with her fork, Chen Jianing mumbled, “Lu Li…”

“What?”

“What do boyfriends and girlfriends usually do?”

Lu Li recalled the dates he had with An Baili in his past life. “Anything. As long as you’re together, even just squatting by the roadside and counting people can be fun.”

“Isn’t that boring?” Chen Jianing didn’t understand. Shouldn’t love be romantic and colorful? Squatting by the roadside and counting people was too dull. Love should be associated with amusement parks, Ferris wheels, neon lights, and balloons. Two people who liked each other, holding hands and enjoying the beauty of the world together, that was what ideal love should be like, right?

“You’re still young.” As soon as Lu Li finished this sentence, he heard Chen Jianing chuckle.

“You little man, calling me young? I’m older than you, you know.” Chen Jianing teased.

“I have more experience than you.”

Chen Jianing’s heart skipped a beat. She suddenly felt like her heart was hanging in mid-air, unable to find a place to land. “You’ve been in love before?” She stared at Lu Li intently, holding her breath. She hoped he would deny it, but she also regretted asking the question so impulsively.

Lu Li didn’t want to lie to her and nodded frankly. “Yes.”

“Oh.” Chen Jianing lowered her head and continued mixing her salad, her excitement instantly gone, like a child watching their sandcastle being washed away by the tide. A sense of loss enveloped her.

Why am I sad?… I don’t even like Lu Li, and he’s just my temporary boyfriend. What does his romantic history have to do with me? She started to rationalize. Chen Jianing always did this. When she encountered something unpleasant, she would find all sorts of strange excuses in her mind and achieve “victory” in her own head. Perhaps this was the source of her awkward personality.

Lu Li opened the drawer of the bedside table and saw that the fever medicine was untouched. He knew that she hadn’t taken her medicine on time. What a child, needing constant reminders to take her medicine… Lu Li warmed a cup of water and took out the pills. “Come on, open your mouth.” Chen Jianing didn’t move. She was still sulking and didn’t really want to pay attention to Lu Li.

“Be good, open your mouth.”

Chen Jianing looked at Lu Li and saw a gentle light in his eyes. That gaze was so familiar, her mother often looked at her like that. A soft spot in her heart was touched by Lu Li. She obediently opened her mouth without saying anything, as docile as a lamb.

The sugar coating of the pill melted, leaving a bitter aftertaste. Chen Jianing used to hate taking medicine, especially traditional Chinese medicine. She had to swallow dozens of small pills in one go, which always made her choke. But now, she was willing to savor the bitterness, wishing she could slow down and make Lu Li stay a little longer.

Unfortunately, Lu Li didn’t understand the girl’s thoughts. After seeing Chen Jianing finish her medicine, he prepared to leave.

“Get some sleep after taking your medicine. I’ll come back to call you for lunch.” Just as Lu Li was about to get up, Chen Jianing suddenly grabbed his hand and said pitifully, “Is that all?”

“What?”

“Is that all there is to being in love?”

Yes. Lu Li wanted to answer that way. The more passionate the love, the shorter its shelf life. On the other hand, the more ordinary and mundane the love, the longer it lasted. He and Chen Jianing had never had a fiery passion, only day-to-day companionship. Perhaps this was the reason why Chen Jianing trusted him in her final days. Although they had only known each other for a month, they got along like old friends.

“What else?”

Chen Jianing opened and closed her mouth, but didn’t say anything. Lu Li noticed her cherry-like lips, pink and tender, glistening with a watery sheen. He suddenly understood what Chen Jianing meant.

It was a kiss.

If there was one thing that young couples had to experience, it was definitely kissing. Holding hands was too bland, going to bed was too much, so kissing was the most appropriate. A man’s kiss was often cheap, while a girl’s, especially a young girl’s, was particularly precious. Chen Jianing’s shyness prevented her from saying those words.

A thousand thoughts flashed through Lu Li’s mind, from “Aren’t you afraid of getting infected?” to “Do I really want to kiss Chen Jianing?” from “The early forms of human civilization” to “Where did I come from? Where am I going?” All those words condensed into one sentence: “Want to try a kiss?”

A blush crept onto Chen Jianing’s delicate face, the alluring crimson gradually spreading to her earlobes and then to her slender, white neck. “Mmm…” Her voice was soft, like the whimper of a newborn tiger cub.

Besides shyness, there was also curiosity. What did kissing feel like? She thought she would never get the answer in her lifetime.

Lu Li cupped Chen Jianing’s face in his hands. It was hot to the touch, soft and bouncy, like egg white or smooth jelly. Chen Jianing closed her eyes, her eyelashes trembling, her pink lips moving restlessly. Lu Li silently kissed her. He could clearly feel Chen Jianing taking a sharp breath.

Just as Lu Li’s lips touched hers, this damn girl suddenly blew air into his mouth, as if inflating a balloon. Lu Li felt a chill in his throat and quickly pushed her face away. “What are you doing, blowing air?”

Chen Jianing’s face crumpled. “I, I was too nervous…” She always messed things up when she was nervous. The moment Lu Li kissed her, her mind went blank, and she actually thought about her experience blowing up balloons. To relieve her nervousness, she instinctively blew a puff of air into Lu Li’s mouth.

Lu Li’s forehead was sweating. Only this troublesome girl could do something so outrageous. He swore he would never be fooled by her appearance again!

“Wh-where are you going?”

“To brush my teeth.” Lu Li said fiercely.

“No, no more kissing?” Chen Jianing felt both happy and disappointed.

“No more kissing.”

Chapter 17: The Last Wish

At seven o’clock in the evening, Lu Li called his sister to let her know he was safe. He could faintly hear An Baili’s voice on the other end of the line. Did they get along well? His sister asked him what he had for dinner, how many bowls of rice he ate, and how the epidemic was. After patiently answering a series of questions, Sister Yameng finally felt reassured.

Not long after hanging up, he received a WeChat message from Chen Jianing: “I’m awake. I’m hungry.” This girl was really taking advantage of his care, not even pretending anymore. Her true nature as a homebody was fully exposed.

Lu Li brought dinner to Chen Jianing’s room. The girl was nestled in bed, wearing an oversized pajama top, her small face looking particularly delicate. Her complexion was much better than during the day. Chen Jianing unceremoniously snatched the thermos lunchbox and started devouring the food. She had been drinking porridge for the past few days, so it was no wonder she was craving something greasy.

After finishing her meal, Chen Jianing suddenly stared at Lu Li without blinking, her gaze unsettling. Lu Li felt goosebumps rising on his skin. He patted his arm. “What are you doing? You’re giving me the creeps!”

“Lu Li, do you remember what you promised me?”

“What promise?”

“You promised to fulfill my three wishes.” Chen Jianing counted on her fingers. “You only half fulfilled the first wish, and the second wish hasn’t been fulfilled yet. Now it’s time for the third wish.”

“Then tell me.”

“…” Chen Jianing suddenly became hesitant. She looked around and then said, “Turn off the lights.”

“Why turn off the lights?”

“Just do it!”

Lu Li had no choice but to turn off the overhead light. The room instantly plunged into darkness. He could only see Chen Jianing’s silhouette in the dim light. Was there something that had to be said in the dark?

“Lu Li, be my boyfriend.”

Lu Li felt as if someone had hit him on the head with a mallet. It took him a while to recover. In his shock, he instinctively reached for the bedside lamp. The light flickered on, and under the orange glow, Chen Jianing’s cheeks were flushed, as if burning. She pushed Lu Li away and slammed the switch off. With a click, the light disappeared, and the room was plunged back into darkness.

“Don’t, don’t turn on the lights!” Chen Jianing shouted with all her might. If it weren’t for the darkness, how could she have the courage to say those words?

“Are you delirious from the fever?” Lu Li shouted back.

“I’m not delirious!” Chen Jianing defended herself. “I’ve never been in a relationship before, and I’m about to die. I don’t even know what a boyfriend is! I just want to experience what it’s like to be in love before I die… After all, after all, I won’t have the chance once I’m reborn as a tiger…”

Still thinking about that stupid tiger? Lu Li felt helpless. He swore he had never had any romantic feelings for Chen Jianing. Their relationship was more like confidants, like frenemies. That’s how it was in his past life, at least that’s what he thought. Chen Jianing was too short, her figure wasn’t sexy enough, her face was too baby-faced, and her personality wasn’t very good… If he had to list her flaws, he could go on and on.

As Lu Li remained silent, Chen Jianing’s sobs came from the darkness. “You think I fancy you? I just, I just feel sorry for myself… If I wasn’t dying, I wouldn’t ask you to be my boyfriend…” She was crying again.

“Okay, okay, don’t cry, I promise.” Lu Li said. “Until you’re reborn or recover, I’ll shamelessly be Miss Chen’s boyfriend, how about that?”

Hearing this, Chen Jianing’s sobs gradually subsided.

“You’re not angry?”

“I’m not angry.”

“Lu Li, you’re so good to me.”

Maybe this is what I owe you from my past life. Lu Li asked, “Can I turn on the lights now?”

“No, wait a little longer.”

“How long?”

“Just a little while.”

“How long is ‘a little while’?”

Silence.

The room fell silent, only the sound of their breathing could be heard. The girl’s breathing was a bit faster. This silence was too ambiguous, the meaning it conveyed far exceeding words. Even Lu Li, who was good at playing dumb, felt a bit restless. He shifted in his seat, unable to find a comfortable position. He looked at Chen Jianing, and she seemed to be looking at him too. Their gazes met in the darkness, making Chen Jianing’s breathing even faster.

She took several deep breaths, but still couldn’t figure out how to face Lu Li.

“You, you should go out first. I’m sleepy…”

“You haven’t taken your medicine yet…”

“I’ll take it myself! Get out!” Her voice was a bit sharp.

Lu Li didn’t turn on the lights, fumbling for the door in the darkness. Chen Jianing took advantage of the light from the opening door to steal a quick glance at Lu Li. Seeing that he wasn’t displeased, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

“Well… go-good night…” Chen Jianing never said good night before. Before going to bed, she would just shout, “I’m going to sleep, you go!” or “Sleepy, sleepy…”

Lu Li stopped in his tracks and smiled, a smile he didn’t quite understand himself. “Good night.” With a bang, the door closed, and the young man’s figure disappeared from view. Chen Jianing finally turned on the light. She shuffled over to the dressing table in her slippers and looked at the flushed girl in the mirror, pinching her cheeks. “Chen Jianing, are you crazy?”

She felt her heart beating so fast, like it was about to explode. During Lu Li’s silence earlier, a million thoughts had flashed through her mind. If Lu Li had rejected her, she would have been so embarrassed that she wanted to jump out of the window. But he didn’t refuse. He agreed so readily. Why? Chen Jianing thought wildly. Lu Li actually liked her, right? Otherwise, he wouldn’t be so good to her. Even the doxing incident could be explained as an act of passionate admiration… Was that so?

She pressed her hand against her chest, feeling the fierce beating of her heart. This was a feeling Chen Jianing had never experienced before. She said to the mirror, “It’s Lu Li who likes me, not me who likes Lu Li… It’s Lu Li who likes me, not me who likes Lu Li…” She repeated it several times before her heartbeat gradually calmed down.

Chen Jianing leaned on the table, her thoughts racing.

If she wasn’t dying, she wouldn’t be in such a hurry to find a boyfriend… She wouldn’t have chosen Lu Li… Lu Li was younger than her, and they had even argued before. Besides, besides being a bit caring, besides being a bit gentle, besides being a bit good-looking, besides… besides… Chen Jianing’s ears turned red again.

Anyway, she didn’t have long to live. Lu Li was getting a good deal… She thought narcissistically. She was very pretty. Although she was short, she had always been the prettiest girl in her class. Lu Li must be secretly rejoicing, finding such a pretty girl as his girlfriend. He must be bragging to his friends right now…

An image suddenly flashed through her mind, the image of Lu Li answering the phone that day. The girl’s voice on the phone was very pleasant, gentle and sweet. A hint of doubt surfaced in her heart, but Chen Jianing didn’t dwell on it. The doubt quietly faded away amidst a wave of inexplicable joy.

Chapter 16: Twenty-Four Days

Lu Li’s refund plan didn’t work out as he’d hoped. After five days, the positive rating for Black Wolf’s Ring had climbed back up to 50%, but that was it. Reality was reality after all. This 50% positive rating was achieved by playing the sympathy card. To improve further, the game needed some “hard power.” Unfortunately, Black Wolf’s Ring lacked that.

Before Chen Jianing could even comment on this, she fell ill again. One morning, Lu Li opened her door and found her sprawled on the bed, kicking off the blankets with her limbs spread out. The window was open, letting in a cold draft, and the carpet near the window was covered in water stains. That afternoon, Chen Jianing had a fever again, 39.5 degrees Celsius, with a runny nose.

Lu Li took out the fever medicine and brought her warm water. “Here, take your medicine and go back to sleep.”

Chen Jianing felt lightheaded and dizzy. Lu Li’s figure in her vision seemed to be far away, as if she had become a ghost observing the world. “I… I don’t think I can make it this time. My head hurts worse than before…” Lu Li warmed the water for her and placed his hand on her forehead. “Don’t talk nonsense, it’s just a fever.”

Chen Jianing wanted to say something else, but only whimpers came out. She didn’t even have the strength to speak now. After helping the little tiger fall asleep, Lu Li felt a heavy weight in his heart. He was someone who couldn’t bear to see others suffer, especially those close to him. He turned on the TV, and the news was on. It reported that Princess Zhu Xi, on behalf of the royal family, expressed her condolences to the residents of Mulan City and hoped that the people of the country would unite and overcome this difficulty together.

Zhu Xi… Lu Li knew her, the infamous Poison Princess – in the future, that is. The current Zhu Xi was just a seventeen-year-old princess, perhaps still innocent and naive, not yet possessing the chilling heart she would have in the future. Unlike ordinary people like him, Zhu Xi was someone whose name would be recorded in history books. When people mentioned her, they would often associate her with the New Tokyo incident, with a massacre. They might also mention Zhu Xi’s three marriages.

Besides him and An Baili, perhaps no one knew what a cruel person this girl, who was now delivering a speech with a compassionate expression, would become in the future.

But what did that have to do with him?

Chen Jianing whimpered again, calling out for her mother. Lu Li didn’t respond. After calling out for a while without getting a response, Chen Jianing started mumbling Lu Li’s name. Lu Li sighed. “I’m here…” Chen Jianing finally opened her eyes, her gaze clouded. “Am I still alive?”

“Yes.” Lu Li forced a smile.

“I just dreamed of my mother.”

“What did she say?”

“She told me to be good. To go home early.” Chen Jianing said in a daze. “Then I dreamed of you. You were wearing a dress and giving me an injection. It scared me awake.”

Why was he wearing a dress? Lu Li touched her forehead. It was still burning. The fever medicine didn’t seem to be working. Was RSA really that scary? Chen Jianing’s brain seemed to have been fried. Her words were no different from a kindergarten child’s.

“I have a second wish.”

“…”

“Lu Li, are you there?”

“I’m here.”

“Don’t be silent, okay? I’m scared…”

Chen Jianing’s eyes were half-closed as she spoke. She couldn’t even open them now. Lu Li looked away, his heart aching. “Tell me, what’s your second wish?”

“After I die, can you tell my family that… that…” Her voice grew weaker and weaker.

“Tell them what?”

“Tell them that Chen Jianing went abroad to study, and they shouldn’t worry.”

What a clumsy lie, would your parents really believe that? Lu Li touched the girl’s head. “Okay, I promise. Besides your family, who else needs to know that you went abroad to study?”

“No one else…” Chen Jianing thought for a moment. “The password to my phone is 990322. Their phone numbers are in my contacts…”

Chen Jianing explained everything in detail, from her arrangements after death to her childhood life. When one’s days were numbered, they would cherish their childhood memories, the aroma of their mother’s cooking, the fifty-cent skewers outside the school, the time spent squatting in a corner counting ants. She said she was raised by her grandparents. When she was little, her grandmother raised her like a boy, dressing her in boys’ clothes. She even had a buzz cut until middle school. Her messy habits also developed from that time.

Later, her parents’ careers improved, and they took her to the city to study and bought her dresses and let her grow out her hair. However, the childish Chen Jianing had new worries. Her classmates were all growing up fast. The boys were getting taller, with fine fuzz appearing on their upper lips. The girls were becoming more and more graceful, whispering about which brand of “bread” to use. Only she remained small and clueless.

“They were all so annoying… No one wanted to play with me… Some mean girls even threatened to have someone rip my mouth apart…” Chen Jianing’s voice trembled slightly as she spoke. “I told the teacher, and the next week, they were expelled. Then, then even fewer people wanted to talk to me. They threatened me, why couldn’t I tell the teacher?”

“Yes, you did the right thing.” Lu Li replied gently. It wasn’t really a matter of right or wrong, but a matter of fitting in. School bullying had always existed. It was just a reflection of social inequality. Wherever there were people, there would be inequality. The victims of bullying hadn’t done anything wrong, but their very existence was a mistake. Perhaps Wen Hupo was right. Humans were boring creatures, keen on hurting the weak and bowing to the strong, repeating the cycle until self-destruction.

He remembered watching an interview in his past life where a reporter asked the now adult Princess Zhu Xi about her school life. Her answer left a deep impression on him. She said it was terrible. She was the one being bullied, not physically, but socially. It was cold violence, and even as a princess of the empire, she couldn’t escape this fate.

Chen Jianing rambled on and on, until she felt sleepy. She mumbled, “Lu Li, I’m sleepy, let’s talk tomorrow.” Her voice was soft and sweet, extremely adorable.

“Sweet dreams.” Lu Li tucked her in and warmed a cup of water, placing it on the bedside table in case she woke up thirsty. After doing all this, Lu Li left the room. He returned to his own room and marked another day on the calendar. Today was the twenty-fourth day of the lockdown. According to official sources, the maximum incubation period of RSA was twenty-four days. In other words, the RSA virus lurking in Chen Jianing’s body was about to erupt.

After a long silence, Lu Li dialed Chu Xiaodong’s number.

“Uncle Chu, I have a favor to ask…”

Chapter 15: The Miser’s Demise

On the fifteenth day of the lockdown, it snowed in Mulan City. The coldest time of the year was often the period before snowfall. After the white blanket settled, the temperature actually rose. The hotel had floor heating, so the subtle temperature changes weren’t noticeable. Only the gradually accumulating icicles on the balcony silently announced the arrival of winter.

Chen Jianing’s health had slightly improved, and she now had the energy to wander around during the day. She especially liked going to the billiards room. She didn’t know how to play, but she enjoyed swinging the cue stick like a golden cudgel. She also said she loved Sun Wukong. When other girls wanted Barbie dolls as children, she would clamor for the Monkey King. After learning about her uncertain fate, Chen Jianing’s mentality changed. She became more talkative with Lu Li and more uninhibited.

In the first few days, she would still get out of bed and try to tidy up her room. Later, when Lu Li pushed open the door, all he saw was a mess.

Lu Li brought back two lunch boxes. The portions were smaller than before. The kitchen staff had said that the supplies in the warehouse weren’t infinite. For the long term, the staff’s meals had been halved. Only when absolutely necessary would they reduce the meals for the distinguished guests on the fifth floor. Lu Li didn’t mind. He and Chen Jianing didn’t have big appetites anyway.

Chen Jianing was sitting on the bed, watching cartoons on the children’s channel with great interest.

Come on, even Jingyi wouldn’t watch such childish cartoons. Lu Li curled his lip and placed the lunch boxes on the bedside table.

“I’m not hungry.” Chen Jianing was engrossed in the cartoons.

“You’re a college student. Still watching Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf? Isn’t that childish?”

“You’re just a high school student, what right do you have to call me childish?” Chen Jianing glared at him fiercely. “If you calculate our ages carefully, you should call me ‘sister.’ Hmph, call me ‘sister’ and let me hear it.”

“A little kid who doesn’t even reach my chest wants to be my sister?” Lu Li scoffed.

Chen Jianing hated it the most when people called her short – she was indeed short, petite and slender, her delicate features making her appear even smaller. She puffed up her cheeks and glared at Lu Li. “Don’t call me short!”

“Short, short, short, short, short…”

Furious, Chen Jianing grabbed Lu Li’s right hand and bit down hard. The pain made Lu Li jerk his hand back. “You dog, let go!”

Chen Jianing clenched her teeth and refused to let go, her eyes narrowed in a smile. She said through gritted teeth, “Still calling me short? Hehehe…”

“You’re drooling, isn’t that disgusting?”

“I’ll disgust you to death.”

“You’re hopeless.”

After a while of fooling around, the cartoon ended. Chen Jianing finally picked up her bowl and started eating, but her appetite wasn’t good. Lu Li examined the teeth marks on his arm and winced in pain. This damn girl really didn’t hold back, biting so hard. Did she think he was a piece of pork?

He couldn’t help but look at Chen Jianing’s profile. “Delicate” was the perfect word to describe her. She had a small face with beautiful features, but lacked a certain grandeur, the typical Jiangnan girl. But her personality was truly annoying.

“Don’t look at me.” Chen Jianing suddenly said.

Was that sarcasm or not? Lu Li was confused.

“Hey, Lu Li.” She spoke again. “About that first wish, let’s forget about it.” After waiting for so long, Lu Li hadn’t given her any updates. Chen Jianing naturally assumed that he had given up. She didn’t want him to waste any more effort. After all, he had already taken care of her for so long, he had done enough.

“I was just about to talk to you about that.” Lu Li left the room under Chen Jianing’s puzzled gaze. He returned shortly with his laptop and logged into her Valve account in front of her. “Look at the backend data.”

“Positive rating… 36%?” Chen Jianing’s eyes widened. “How did you do that?” The positive rating of Black Wolf’s Ring was only 3% before. How could it have increased more than tenfold in just seven or eight days? It was unbelievable.

“I opened the refund channel.” Lu Li’s words made Chen Jianing, the big cat, bristle.

“What?!”

Chen Jianing had another hidden attribute: she was a miser. She loved hoarding money, like a hamster. If anyone tried to touch her little treasure trove, this little tiger would fight them to the death. When Chen Jianing heard Lu Li’s words, her only thought was “He’s lying to me.” She grabbed the mouse, quickly clicked into the game page, and after a quick glance, her eyes rolled back, and she fainted on the spot.

Lu Li hadn’t just opened the refund channel, he had also posted a heartfelt apology letter on the announcement page.

What was this? If those haters saw this, wouldn’t they think that Orochimaru had caved? Wait, why had her profile picture been changed too?

In her daze, Chen Jianing saw Lu Li’s smiling face. “Who, who sent you?”

“The Imperial Army asked me to give you a message…” These were the last teasing words Chen Jianing heard before she fainted.

***

When Chen Jianing woke up again, she refused to say a word to Lu Li. The little tiger looked at him as if he were her mortal enemy, her face sullen.

“Don’t talk to me!”

Lu Li was sure that Chen Jianing wasn’t being sarcastic this time. He obediently took his laptop and left, saying respectfully before leaving, “Miss Chen, just call me if you need anything~” Chen Jianing was so angry that she laughed. “Come back here!”

Lu Li sat back on the edge of the bed, sitting upright and silent, like a first grader in class.

Chen Jianing snorted a couple of times. She was definitely angry, but only for a moment. Now that she thought about it, Black Wolf’s Ring hadn’t made much money anyway. It was fine that he opened the refund channel. What she was truly angry about was that Lu Li apologized to those haters on her behalf. But what could she do about it? Would being angry really drive Lu Li away? If the room was empty, with only her alone, it would… it would be a bit lonely.

Even if she was going to die, she couldn’t die alone, right?

Chen Jianing found some excuses for herself in her heart, and her expression softened slightly. “Delete that apology announcement, and I’ll forgive you.”

Why delete it? To be honest, Chen Jianing’s game was indeed a “money laundering scheme” as the comments said, but Chen Jianing refused to admit it. And why did she refuse to admit it? Simply because she had placed too many hopes on this game. To persuade someone, you had to address the root cause. Blindly denying others would only lead to arguments.

“Chen Jianing, would you like to join my game development team?” Lu Li didn’t directly answer Chen Jianing’s request, but instead repeated his offer.

He had asked her once before when they first met, but the little tiger had refused.

“No way!” Chen Jianing was annoyed again.

“Don’t you want to make a high-quality game with rave reviews? The haters who replied to your apology letter in the Black Wolf’s Ring comment section today will all become your fans in the future. Isn’t that more satisfying than simply cursing them out?” Lu Li suddenly asked.

Chen Jianing was stumped. She paused, as if it was indeed true… But… but…

“What future?” Chen Jianing asked with a trembling voice. “I, I’m going to die.”

“If you really die, then it’s all over. What does it matter if there are a million more haters?” Lu Li’s gaze was intense, and Chen Jianing didn’t dare to meet his eyes. “But what if you don’t die?”

Chen Jianing lowered her head and mumbled, “If I survive this, what’s wrong with promising you?”

Chapter 14: Snow in Chuanhai

Lazy to write new poems with a frozen brush, warming fine wine by the cold stove.

Gazing at the ink blossoms and moon’s white glow, I imagine snow covering the village ahead.

Wen Hupo softly recited the poem, savoring it in her heart several times, then compared it with the snow scene outside the window, gaining a new understanding.

“Do you like ancient poems?” Chu Jingyi sat across from Wen Hupo, separated by a desk in the activity classroom. The Class Monitor had changed into winter clothes and wrapped a scarf around her neck. Her delicate eyebrows were like crescent moons, her eyes like cold pools, resembling an ethereal fairy. Her scarf was a fiery red, the vibrant color making her skin appear even whiter.

“Somewhat.” There was a thermos on Wen Hupo’s desk, steam rising from its mouth, obscuring her expression from Chu Jingyi’s view. It didn’t really matter if she couldn’t see her face. Wen Hupo always had an impassive expression. She seemed incapable of smiling, crying, or getting angry, like an outsider detached from this world – at least that’s what Silly Goose thought.

Chu Jingyi wasn’t a difficult person to get along with. Taking away her Class Monitor persona, she was actually a very approachable girl. So naturally, she became friends with Wen Hupo. The issue of who owned the activity classroom was temporarily put aside. At least until Lu Li returned, Chu Jingyi didn’t mind letting Wen Hupo stay there.

She had never seen Wen Hupo attend classes. The blonde girl mostly spent her time setting up her easel in the activity classroom, carefully applying each stroke of paint. Occasionally, she brought her laptop and used a digital tablet to draw. Whenever this happened, Chu Jingyi would think of Lu Li’s game. Didn’t Lu Li need a good artist? Wen Hupo seemed to fit his requirements, right?

“Where’s your friend?” Wen Hupo took a sip of hot water, her stomach feeling warm. “She seems to be afraid of me.”

“Baili? Hmm… She does seem a bit afraid of you.” Chu Jingyi didn’t know why either. When An Baili faced Wen Hupo, it was like a thief encountering the homeowner, a mouse encountering a cat. She was timid, her eyes shifty, and always deliberately avoiding Wen Hupo.

She remembered a week ago, when An Baili first saw Wen Hupo, her expression was a mixture of shock, fear, and guilt. Guilt? Why guilt?

“She looks like she has a guilty conscience.” Wen Hupo said flatly.

“What?”

“My intuition tells me she did something wrong to me.” Wen Hupo’s eyes were as deep as ever. “I don’t know what it is, but only a guilty child would make that kind of expression. But the strange thing is, this was our first meeting, right?”

So perceptive… Chu Jingyi was a little surprised. She thought she was the only one with such keen observation skills. Unlike her, Chu Jingyi’s perceptiveness was introverted, hidden beneath a layer of innocence, like the filling inside a sandwich. Wen Hupo’s perceptiveness was outward, sharp and unconcealed, like a drawn sword.

“Baili is always like that, she’s very shy.” At times like this, she had to cover for her friend.

“Really?” A flicker of doubt crossed Wen Hupo’s face, but she didn’t ask further.

The two of them didn’t talk much. Often, they would sit together for a whole class period with less than three sentences exchanged. Today, Wen Hupo seemed particularly chatty. She saw a student couple playing in the snow on the playground, each writing the other’s name in the snow.

“Doesn’t your school care about puppy love?”

What do you mean “your school”? You’re a student at Chuanhai No. 1 High School now too, you know? Chu Jingyi was a little dissatisfied. “Of course they do, but they usually turn a blind eye. The couple you’re looking at, the boy is the second son of Chen’s Pharmaceuticals, and the girl is the daughter of a customs official. Their families have long known each other and arranged their engagement. For couples like them, as long as they don’t affect others, it’s fine.”

Wen Hupo didn’t say anything, but she thought to herself that indeed, every country was the same. Rules were made by people. This was a world controlled by humans. And… writing each other’s names in the snow was such a foolish thing to do. When the snow melted, the names would disappear. They wouldn’t even last that long. The snowfall the next day would be enough to bury all proof of love under layers of white snow.

As Wen Hupo was thinking this, she suddenly saw Chu Jingyi’s eyes light up. She could tell that this girl, who embodied classic Eastern beauty, was actually envious of that couple.

“Are you thinking about that boy named Lu Li?”

Chu Jingyi’s face instantly flushed a lovely pink. “Wh-why, how did you know?”

How could I not know? Every time you mention him, you look so eager, wanting to shower him with all the beautiful words in the world. But when I ask if you like him, you always hesitate and shake your head fearfully, just like a girl in love.

Wen Hupo also knew that it wasn’t just Chu Jingyi. That girl named An Baili was the same. When mentioning Lu Li, An Baili was even more enthusiastic than Chu Jingyi.

Perhaps it was a devoted fool who could make one girl fall deeply in love, but a man who could make two girls fall deeply in love would definitely not be a good person. Wen Hupo silently labeled the boy she had never met: a scumbag.

At least, she didn’t have a good impression of this boy named Lu Li. He must be the type who deliberately styled his hair to look fluffy, dressed fashionably, smoked, drove a sports car, and had been a playboy since he was eleven. He probably had a black rose tattooed on his left ankle with his first love’s name on it. But his first love only existed in the fabricated backstory he used when picking up girls.

Yes, that was the kind of boy he was. Weren’t boys like that everywhere in Chuanhai No. 1 High School? The funny thing was that this kind of shallow man actually wanted to add her to his list of conquests. They would only be met with repeated failures. Wen Hupo didn’t feel any sense of triumph, she just thought: This world was truly boring.

“Does it snow in America?” Chu Jingyi asked a silly question.

Wen Hupo answered quickly. “Yes, it does. Besides snow, there are also storms. If you don’t shovel the snow for a day, the garage door will be snowed in, and you won’t be able to drive out at all.”

“Then it must not be as beautiful as the light snow in Chuanhai.” Chu Jingyi finally understood why Wen Hupo kept reciting that poem earlier. She adjusted her bright red scarf. “Let’s go, let’s go see the snow.”

What’s so good about snow? Although Wen Hupo thought this, she still replied, “Okay.”

The two girls, like elves in the snow, walked towards the silver-covered land. As the saying went: Pine trees stand tall in the cold snow, mountain clouds blow with icy breath, red pepper buds burst forth in the light spring. And also: Winter’s dense snow sounds like shattered jade. Snow weighed down the branches. The girls’ figures had blended into this frosty land, leaving behind only two faint shadows for those who followed to imagine.

Oh, right, I forgot to mention.

It was snowing in Chuanhai today.

Chapter 13: Three Wishes Before Death

It was three in the afternoon, and Lu Li was sitting by the bed, peeling an apple for Chen Jianing. The TV was on, playing a nature documentary about jaguars. It explained how jaguars retract their claws when hunting, moving silently through the forest like assassins.

Peeling apples for patients was probably a universal law. Lu Li guessed that if there were parallel universes, there must be a custom of family members sitting by the bedside and peeling apples for patients in those worlds too. Peeling an apple was actually a skill. You had to preserve as much of the flesh as possible while keeping the peel intact. Only then would the apple convey sincerity and care. An Baili was a sickly girl with a sensitive stomach and was often hospitalized. Lu Li had honed his apple-peeling skills. To be honest, he didn’t like apples. He always found them too sour, and their texture was no different from chewing wood.

But the girls he knew seemed to like apples.

Chen Jianing was one of them. At least, the current Chen Jianing was munching on it happily. She was glued to the nature documentary, her breathing synchronizing with the movements of the big cat on screen. She held the apple in her small hand, occasionally taking a bite or two, mimicking the jaguar’s actions, as if putting herself in the big cat’s perspective.

Lu Li was relieved that she was able to cheer up. After all, RSA wasn’t a terminal illness. As long as she persevered, she might recover. Chu Xiaodong had recently told him about a case of spontaneous recovery from RSA, and Lu Li relayed it to Chen Jianing. The girl seemed quite moved.

“You stay here and watch TV, I’m going back to my room to work on the game.” Lu Li patted his thighs. He had been sitting for the whole afternoon, and his legs were numb.

“Lu Li, I’ve decided.” Chen Jianing spoke, but her eyes were still fixed on the TV screen. “I’ve decided to be reborn as a tiger in my next life, living alone in a big mountain, where no one dares to mess with me, eating and sleeping as I please, majestic and powerful.”

Lu Li was amused by her words. “A tigress?”

“No way, I don’t want to be female. Otherwise, I’ll be bullied by those stinky male tigers, just like being a woman. I want to be a dominant male tiger, claiming all the beautiful tigresses in the area.” Chen Jianing’s tone was a bit wistful. “It’s so good to be a tiger. No school, no exams, no nagging from parents…”

“Let’s talk about next life later. If reincarnation were democratic, I would definitely vote for you to be reborn as a tiger.” Lu Li said with a smile.

“Isn’t next life coming soon?” Chen Jianing turned her head and looked at Lu Li, asking rhetorically.

“…”

Chen Jianing pointed at herself. “I keep hearing a voice lately. It keeps saying that I’m going to die, that I’m seriously ill, the kind that can’t be cured. Lu Li, I really feel like I’m going to die, but I don’t dare tell my family. I can only tell you, because you’re the only one who knows I have RSA.”

Her words were both absurd and heavy.

“Don’t think too much. Didn’t you still believe you could recover last time?”

“I just have this premonition, and I’m telling you, my premonitions are very accurate.” Chen Jianing became increasingly depressed, putting down the apple in her hand. “A few days ago, I was scared to death. I hid under the blanket and cried at night, feeling so sorry for my parents. They would be devastated if I died. Especially my mom, she’s so good to me, her, sob, her osmanthus cake is so delicious… Sob…” She was crying, and in the end, only sobs could be heard.

Here we go again. Lu Li sighed inwardly. Why did this girl always think about the worst-case scenario?

“But I’m not sad at all now…” Chen Jianing wiped her tears and suppressed her sobs, her words unconvincing. “I’ve figured it out. Everyone dies eventually, some weightier than Mount Tai, some lighter than a feather. I’m that feather, it’s better to be lighter, so I won’t crush anyone with my death. Only, only those who can face death calmly are true warriors… But before I’m reborn as a tiger, I have three wishes… Lu Li, can I ask you to fulfill them?”

It was pitiful. At this critical moment, only Lu Li knew about Chen Jianing’s condition, and her only support was this familiar yet strange young man.

When a person is about to die, their words are kind. Even the always annoying Chen Jianing could speak kindly at times like this.

“Tell me.” Lu Li was no longer able to dispel her conviction that she was going to die. She had hypnotized herself, and nothing he said would change her mind.

“My first wish is for my game, Black Wolf’s Ring, to have an 80% positive rating.” After receiving Lu Li’s promise, Chen Jianing hesitated. “Well, if it’s too difficult, it’s okay… Anyway, anyway, my game is worthless. Getting an 80% positive rating must be very difficult…”

An 80% positive rating? It was indeed difficult, but if it was just to fulfill Chen Jianing’s wish, there were many ways to achieve it.

“What are your other wishes?”

“The other wishes, wait, wait until the first wish is fulfilled, okay?” Chen Jianing’s pleading eyes made it difficult for Lu Li to refuse. This was his weakness, his soft heart, easily swayed by women.

Lu Li stood up. Chen Jianing thought he was refusing and quickly pleaded, “Don’t go.”

“I’m going to get you those positive reviews. Send me your Valve account and password.” Lu Li left without looking back, quite dashing.

The most direct way to fulfill Chen Jianing’s first wish was to hire trolls to leave positive reviews, but that would be detected by the platform and her account would be banned. The second, slightly more roundabout way was to fake the data. Webpage data was all code. By modifying the backend code, he could create fake data locally without uploading it to the server.

But did he really want to show Chen Jianing fake data that only existed for her own amusement?

Lu Li logged into Chen Jianing’s account. The first thing he did was change her profile picture. He replaced the Orochimaru avatar with a slightly more aesthetically pleasing pink avatar and deleted the self-deprecating signature “Rat Rat is working hard today too.” Self-deprecation could be a form of online entertainment, but it should never be someone’s sole source of sustenance.

Chen Jianing’s inbox was overflowing, mostly filled with hateful messages. Thinking about Chen Jianing replying to each message one by one, Lu Li felt exhausted.

Lu Li turned on the message filter, and the chat window instantly became much cleaner. He then went to the Black Wolf’s Ring store page and typed a message in the latest announcement section: Black Wolf’s Ring is now offering refunds.

Yes.

This game was a complete failure. It was unrealistic to forcibly increase its positive rating. Respecting players and providing timely feedback was the only way to salvage its reputation. As for where the refund money would come from? How many copies of this broken game had been sold in total? How much money could be refunded? Besides the trolls and those looking for a laugh, were there any real players in the game’s comment section?

Lu Li closed his laptop, let out a long breath, and decided not to tell Chen Jianing about his actions until the refund plan yielded results.

Thinking about Chen Jianing’s comical dream of becoming a tiger, Lu Li couldn’t help but laugh, but there was also an inexplicable sadness in his heart. Why did this impulsive girl always make him feel distressed?

Chapter 12: The Silent Call

It was Chu Jingyi calling. This was her first time calling him since his birthday. Before that day, Silly Goose would send a “good night” message promptly at nine every night. Since then, she rarely initiated contact. Although their communication became less frequent, Lu Li felt that their hearts had actually grown closer. The Chu Jingyi before was more like admiration evolving into love, guilt transforming into compensation. Now, Chu Jingyi had become so complex that Lu Li couldn’t quite understand her.

She was still a simple and lovely girl, yet her thoughts were as elusive as a needle in the ocean.

“Jingyi.”

“Lu Li…” Silly Goose’s voice on the other end of the phone was hesitant. “Are you alright?”

He couldn’t be better, with no signs of being infected by Chen Jianing. But he definitely couldn’t say that.

“I’m doing very well. How about you? Are there any cases in Chuanhai?”

“No…” Chu Jingyi’s voice was particularly hesitant today, like the weather in the south, humid, sticky, indecisive.

She didn’t speak anymore, only the faint sound of her breathing could be heard. This reminded Lu Li of the first time he talked to Chu Jingyi on the phone. Neither of them wanted to hang up, and they maintained this strange, silent connection. Lu Li’s thoughts drifted back to that drizzly evening.

***

“Lu Li, am I in love with you? Or am I sick?” Under the black umbrella was a delicate beauty as white as jade. Chu Jingyi clutched the fabric of her shirt over her chest, as if clutching her own heart.

“Whether you’re in love or not, it’s not for me to say.” If this were a month ago, Lu Li would have given an affirmative answer. But he had already made that mistake with An Baili – those who tried to manipulate hearts with words would only face backlash. “Whether you like me or not, only you know.”

“What does it mean to like someone?” This innocent girl asked one of the ultimate questions of human society. What was liking? What was love?

Liking was love at first sight, liking was hormones at play, liking was the restlessness of youth, liking was… what was liking?

“It’s wanting to be with that person always.”

“Even if you’re unhappy? Even if it hurts? Even if it feels like someone is pricking your heart with needles?”

“…” Lu Li realized how superficial he was. He couldn’t even answer this question. Love in a materialistic society was often associated with self-interest. If it didn’t make you better, if it didn’t make you happy, it wasn’t true love – this kind of argument had become mainstream. Love that weathered hardships together seemed to no longer exist.

“I asked other girls.” Chu Jingyi’s eyes were filled with a heartbreaking confusion. “They said if you’re unhappy, just leave. But I don’t want to lose Lu Li at all. I think I probably, should, maybe be in love with you.”

I like you too.

These words were about to burst out of Lu Li’s mouth. But he held back. “Liking someone and loving someone are different. The former is sweet and bitter, the latter is heavy and arduous.”

“…I don’t understand…”

“Whether you like me or not, you have to feel it with your own heart. Liking is like the tide, it ebbs and flows. When it rises, it’s called love at first sight. When it falls, it’s just fondness. Jingyi, no matter what you think, Lu Li will always be your best friend.”

Chu Jingyi finally understood. Lu Li was looking down on her.

He thought her feelings were just innocent infatuation, like the birds of early spring, coming and going without a trace, leaving only the chirping in the forest.

“Lu Li, do you like me?” This question was like Sister Yameng’s spike, direct, forceful, like a sharp knife. It seemed that both father and daughter from the Chu family were good at asking such straightforward questions, often catching Lu Li off guard.

“I’ll tell you my answer when you figure it out yourself.” The young man’s answer drifted away with the wind.

This was their conversation that day. Perhaps Lu Li’s expression was more complex and conflicted, but he couldn’t remember clearly. His mind was already deeply imprinted with Silly Goose’s innocent and confused expression.

Lu Li cleared his throat. “Jingyi…”

“Lu Li…”

They spoke at the same time, then both fell silent.

Lu Li actually wanted to ask her how she did on the mid-term exam, if her grades had stabilized, and how she was getting along with An Baili recently.

“You go first.” In the end, all his words turned into these three simple and emotionless words.

“Someone took over your activity classroom.” Chu Jingyi was speaking, but Lu Li’s mind wasn’t on the content of her words, but on the girl’s gentle voice. Was her voice always this gentle? Why hadn’t he noticed before? It was light and airy, like a feather landing on a soft pillow…

“Oh.”

“It’s a foreigner, a very pretty girl.”

“Hmm.”

“Aren’t you going to ask her name? She’s a pretty girl.”

It was Shirley Amber, or Wen Hupo. What was the point of asking her name? Her name was already engraved in Lu Li’s heart, deeply etched.

“No need.”

“…” Chu Jingyi was silent for a moment. Lu Li didn’t know what she was feeling.

Her tone was a bit higher than before, as if she was a little happy. “Although she’s a bit bossy, she’s a very smart and generous girl. Maybe even smarter than you, Lu Li.”

“I’m not smart.” Lu Li chuckled.

Chu Jingyi let out a soft hum, then fell silent again, like a chess player who had run out of moves, or a gambler who had lost all his chips. She wasn’t good at handling intimate relationships. All she could talk about was this new, pretty girl. She simply thought that Lu Li would be excited about a pretty girl, so she said that.

She wanted Lu Li to be happy, but she didn’t want him to be too happy. It was all so complicated.

Lu Li, however, enjoyed this silence. When he was with Chu Jingyi, just being like this, doing nothing, was enough to make him feel comfortable. Only two people made him feel this way, one was Wen Hupo, and the other was Chu Jingyi in this life.

Suddenly, a soft whimpering sound came from Chen Jianing’s room. It was very faint, Chu Jingyi probably couldn’t hear it, but Lu Li did.

He had to break this comfortable silence. “I’m going to hang up now.”

“…” Still no response.

Just as Lu Li was about to hang up, he suddenly heard Chu Jingyi say in a hurried voice, “I miss you.” Then came a beep, and the call ended, leaving only an empty contact page. Lu Li was stunned for a while, unable to tell if he had imagined those words.

His heart, however, was beating uncontrollably.

Chapter 11: Roses and Longans

The people of Shenzhou had already tried their best to overestimate the impact of the Mulan City outbreak. However, the harsh and absurd reality slapped everyone in the face once again. On the seventh day after the lockdown of Mulan City, RSA cases started appearing in various parts of the country. The vast map of Shenzhou was dotted with red dots representing infections, all thanks to the first batch of unruly guests who had fled the city. The Western media, which had always been weak, finally seized upon the weakness of this superpower and began to condemn the Shenzhou Constitutional Monarchy on international platforms.

Of course, these matters were still too far removed from Lu Li. His only concern now was the safety of those close to him. Fortunately, Chuanhai City was quite far from Mulan City, and the tentacles of RSA had yet to reach this sprawling metropolis.

Lu Li woke up early, filled a basin with hot water, and carried it to Chen Jianing’s room. Chen Jianing was lying listlessly in bed, her face flushed with an unhealthy glow. In recent days, Chen Jianing’s illness had worsened. Her face was pale, her haggard appearance making her slender frame seem as if it could collapse at any moment.

By now, it seemed certain that Chen Jianing had contracted RSA. High fever, coughing, dizziness, photophobia, loss of appetite, back pain… All sorts of ailments had manifested in her. She didn’t look like a young woman in her prime, but a critically ill patient nearing the end of her life.

Lu Li wrung out the warm towel and washed the drowsy Chen Jianing’s face. Chen Jianing had been sleeping for a whole day recently, without even the energy to wash her face. This wasn’t the first time Lu Li had washed Chen Jianing’s face. When they were roommates in his past life, the troublesome girl was also messy. Several times, before meeting important clients, Lu Li would impatiently grab a towel and wipe her face. Every time, Chen Jianing would complain like a spoiled kitten:

“What are you doing…”

Chen Jianing was awakened by the warm towel and uttered those familiar words.

“Your face was dirty, so I washed it for you.”

“Don’t… don’t just enter my room…” Chen Jianing’s eyelids were drooping as she spoke, her words slurred like sleep talk.

“Right now, I’m the only one who can take care of you.” The hotel staff were all staying on the first and second floors, and they wouldn’t go up to the fifth floor unless necessary. As for the other students and teachers, they were still trapped in a villa somewhere.

“Is that so…”

“Yes.” It was pointless to argue with a delirious patient. Lu Li responded softly and helped the girl sit up. She was only wearing a thin nightgown, and Lu Li could clearly feel the girl’s burning body temperature and the touch of her delicate and soft skin. Chen Jianing’s back was completely soaked with sweat, and there was a small puddle on the bedsheet. The air was filled with Chen Jianing’s unique scent, mixed with a hint of sweat, creating a strangely alluring atmosphere.

“I brought you a change of clothes.” Lu Li took out a new set of pajamas.

Chen Jianing squinted her eyes drowsily, leaned against the headboard, and mumbled an “oh.” Her fingers twitched, and she actually fell asleep sitting up.

Lu Li sighed and started unbuttoning Chen Jianing’s pajamas. She was still wearing the kind of tank top that adolescent girls wore, as immature as an unripe green apple. It was inconvenient to change her underwear, so he decided to let her change it herself when she woke up. And the bedsheet… Lu Li wiped his forehead. He had a lot to do this morning.

It wasn’t until one or two in the afternoon that Chen Jianing finally woke up. She immediately realized that her pajamas had been changed. Her expression shifted multiple times, from shock to anger to fear, and finally settled into calmness. Lu Li was sleeping on the recliner in her room, his posture ungraceful, clearly exhausted. Taking care of a patient was hard work. The mental exhaustion was far more overwhelming than the physical fatigue.

Chen Jianing stared at Lu Li blankly, opening and closing her mouth, but ultimately saying nothing.

Lu Li seemed to sense something and woke up. He saw the little tiger staring blankly and, without thinking too much, picked up a thermos on the table. “Awake? I asked the kitchen to make you some lean meat porridge and brew some Pu’er tea with roses. Have something to eat, you haven’t eaten in two days.”

Chen Jianing took the thermos. It was a bit heavy, and her delicate hand couldn’t hold it steady. Lu Li helped her.

“How did you know… I like Pu’er tea with flowers…” Chen Jianing’s words were disjointed, her thoughts clearly still unclear.

“It’s a pity there were no longans left in the cold storage, otherwise I could have added some for you.” Lu Li said regretfully. Chen Jianing loved tea, she loved its bitterness and the sweetness of its aftertaste, but she also liked to add flower petals and fruits to her tea. Lu Li wasn’t originally a tea connoisseur. It was Chen Jianing, in his past life, who introduced him to a whole new world.

Chen Jianing lowered her head, the question still echoing in her mind: How did Lu Li know what she liked?

It wasn’t just tea, but also her food preferences and some small habits in her daily life. Lu Li seemed to know it all. She had been taken care of so meticulously these past few days, so comfortable that she almost forgot she was a terminally ill patient. Rose petals and longans were her two favorite additions to tea. She started adding rose petals because she naively believed the rumors that it would enhance her beauty. Over time, she became accustomed to the aroma of roses in her tea. She added longans because her grandmother, who used to brew tea for her in the countryside when she was a child, said that adding longans to tea symbolized a smooth and fulfilling life, free from worries.

But it seemed like everything had turned out the opposite. Despite adding rose petals to her tea, she hadn’t grown taller, nor had her figure become more slender. Despite adding longans, her life was still full of arguments and frustrations.

I’m so useless. Chen Jianing thought sadly.

She took small sips of the lean meat porridge. The taste was bland, but it gave her an indescribable sense of satisfaction.

“Lu Li…”

“Hmm?”

“Why are you being so nice to me?”

“…”

Was he being nice? Taking care of the impulsive Chen Jianing had become a habit for him. It wasn’t intentional flattery. He remembered when he got married to An Baili, Chen Jianing had promised to be the bridesmaid, but she ended up absent. She didn’t reply to messages or answer calls. When he asked her about it later, her explanation was that she felt lost and sad because no one would take care of her anymore.

Before Lu Li could figure out an answer, his phone rang in the quiet room. It was David Tao’s “Black Tangerine.”

“Let me take this call.”

“…Okay…”

Chen Jianing didn’t know what kind of answer she wanted to hear. She focused on her porridge, “accidentally” hearing a girl’s voice from the phone before Lu Li left the room. Who was it? She thought to herself, but her pace of eating didn’t change.

Chapter 10: Am I Dying?

The curtains in Chen Jianing’s room were drawn, making the entire room pitch black. Lu Li walked over and pulled the curtains open, only to hear Chen Jianing call out, “Don’t, it hurts my eyes…” He turned around and saw a pair of watery eyes blinking in the darkness, like fireflies on a starry night. Usually, only the sick, the poetic, or the foolish disliked light. Chen Jianing was definitely not a poet, so was she sick or foolish?

Lu Li sat on the edge of the bed, catching a faint scent, Chen Jianing’s scent.

“Tell me, what’s wrong now?” It was always Chen Jianing who caused the most trouble. This girl was either getting into trouble or on her way to get into trouble.

Chen Jianing sat cross-legged on the bed. In the dim light, Lu Li could see her toes wriggling restlessly. Chen Jianing had a habit of fidgeting her toes whenever she was hiding something in her heart.

“Shouldn’t you wear a mask first? I, I’m afraid I’ll infect you.” Chen Jianing said softly.

The transmission route of RSA hadn’t been confirmed yet, and if it was really contagious, Lu Li would have been infected yesterday. Wearing a mask now was like closing the barn door after the horse had bolted. Lu Li said impatiently, “I have a naturally strong constitution. I’ve never been sick in my life. Just tell me.”

Chen Jianing let out an “oh” and reluctantly explained, “Did you see the announcement this morning? It said… it said this disease is called Respiratory Syndrome A, and the initial symptoms are coughing, photophobia, and fever… And it’s only people who have lived in Mulan City for more than two months who are infected. I just started school two months ago…”

Two months ago, that was when Lu Li was reborn. Lu Li rubbed his chin. “So you think you’re infected too?”

“I, I’ve actually had a slight cough lately. When I woke up today, I found that I was very sensitive to light. My eyes hurt whenever I see light… Isn’t this exactly the symptoms of RSA?” Chen Jianing said with a sob in her voice. “The news says that this disease has a very high fatality rate, and the hospitals are full. Many people can only rely on self-treatment at home… I must have RSA, sob…”

Lu Li also became cautious. “Besides coughing and photophobia, do you have any other symptoms?” Coughing could just be a minor ailment, and photophobia could be psychological.

“Yes.” Chen Jianing answered with certainty. “My head has been hurting lately, my feet hurt, and my elbows are a bit sore. And my stomach has been rumbling… I must have RSA!”

Wasn’t her whole body aching? Yet she could still sit here and talk? What a strong will.

Lu Li wasn’t sure and decided to consult Chu Xiaodong.

“Lu Li…” Chen Jianing called out pitifully. “Am I dying? My head feels dizzy, like I’m going to pass out at any moment…”

Death. This word brought back some unpleasant memories for Lu Li. He thought of Sister Yameng’s funeral in his past life, the stray dog he adopted at the age of seven being kicked to death on the side of the road, and the small insect he accidentally crushed under his desk in middle school. Death didn’t seem that far away, at least not for Chen Jianing. Lu Li looked at Chen Jianing. The light was dim, and he couldn’t see her face clearly, only a delicate silhouette. She seemed to be trembling. Was she trembling with fear?

Lu Li admitted that he didn’t really like Chen Jianing’s personality, and being friends with her was more like a social inertia. But he didn’t want to see a young girl die in a merciless natural disaster.

“You won’t die.” Lu Li didn’t know how effective this comfort was. The fatality rate of RSA was 25%, but no one wanted to gamble on being part of the 75%.

“I, I don’t want to die.” Chen Jianing was already sobbing softly. “I haven’t earned enough money to buy my parents a big villa yet, I haven’t seen my game get all positive reviews, I haven’t even been in love, I, I don’t want to die… Lu Li, I don’t want to die… Sob…”

“Get some rest, I’ll be back soon.” At this moment, Lu Li realized how pale words were. No matter what he said, it couldn’t change reality. Eloquence might help you navigate the complexities of society, but in the face of indifferent nature, any words were as useless as burnt ashes.

Lu Li went to the balcony and called Chu Xiaodong back. A woman answered the phone. Her voice was magnetic and gentle. Upon hearing that he was looking for Chu Xiaodong, she transferred the call. When Lu Li heard a voice again, it was Chu Xiaodong.

“Xiao Lu, what’s up?”

“Uncle Chu, I have a friend.” Lu Li finally used this classic opening line. “I have a friend who studies at Mulan University. She just started two months ago. She messaged me saying she has a cough, is sensitive to light, and her head, feet, and stomach are all uncomfortable. Isn’t this RSA?”

Chu Xiaodong was silent for a moment. “This friend you’re talking about, isn’t it yourself?”

“No, no, I’m worried about her health, so I wanted to ask you for advice.” Lu Li wiped the sweat from his forehead. Sometimes, being too perceptive wasn’t a good thing, it could lead to misunderstandings.

“If her whole body is uncomfortable, it’s likely a severe case of RSA. You should spend some time with your friend.” Chu Xiaodong’s words were subtle, almost saying that his friend didn’t have long to live, so he should cherish the time he had with her.

Lu Li’s heart sank. He asked again in disbelief, “Is it really a severe case of RSA? Is there no cure?”

“There’s no effective treatment yet. The expert team is flying to Mulan City as quickly as possible. They can only come up with a treatment plan after collecting enough samples.”

“Is, is that so? Then I won’t bother you anymore…”

“It’s okay, Xiao Lu. If anything happens, call this number anytime. I’ll have the receptionist transfer the call to me directly.”

“Thank you…”

Hanging up the phone, Lu Li felt a strange mix of emotions. He looked out at the Mulan City skyline and saw that the streets were still jammed with traffic. Cordon lines were everywhere. Many people hadn’t slept all night and hadn’t gone home, hoping to leave the city as soon as possible. Some people even set up makeshift beds on the main roads, and the police couldn’t do anything about it. In short, Mulan City was in chaos, like a mini Gotham.

Lu Li returned to Chen Jianing’s room. The girl was wrapped in her blanket, as if she could isolate herself from the world this way. Blankets were magical things. They were always the strongest defense for those who refused to grow up, protecting them from ghosts at night, from frustrations at work during the day, and from…

“Lu Li, what did your friend say?” The girl’s voice came from under the blanket.

“You heard that?”

“I couldn’t hear clearly…” Her voice was muffled, as if she was still sniffling. She had been blowing her nose all night, and her poor nose was chafed. It hurt even with the slightest touch.

“How long did your friend say I have left?” The little tiger under the blanket asked.

Lu Li suddenly remembered an inappropriate joke. A patient asked the doctor how long he had left to live. The doctor held up five fingers. The patient was horrified. “I only have five months left?” Then the doctor retracted one finger. “Four.”

He smiled silently. “He said you can live for another thousand years.”

After all, good people don’t live long, while disasters last a thousand years. He hoped that Chen Jianing, this disaster, would live for a thousand years and not succumb to this inexplicable outbreak.