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

Vol2 Chapter 10: The Activity Classroom

Lu Li needed to apply for a vacant activity classroom as the base for his “Game Development Club.” Chu Jingyi volunteered to accompany him to the Student Affairs Office to handle the paperwork. They walked side by side down the hallway, a handsome pair indeed. Chu Jingyi was wearing the Chuanhai No. 1 High School girls’ uniform, but she had replaced the black stockings with white ones and swapped the black bow tie for a brown teddy bear tie. She had clearly put some thought into her appearance. In Lu Li’s memory, Silly Goose wasn’t a girl who chased fashion trends. She was the kind of proper young lady who would instinctively hold down her skirt in a strong wind, unfazed by any surprises, wearing expensive yet unremarkable clothes, covering her mouth with a small fan when she laughed.

“The stockings match your style, and the teddy bear is cute.” Lu Li vaguely sensed that her hairstyle was different, but he couldn’t pinpoint what had changed.

Chu Jingyi beamed. “Thank you~” Lu Li froze for a moment. He had to admit, for a fleeting instant, he was captivated by her pure smile. The more he experienced the bitterness and sweetness of life, the less resistant he became to such innocent smiles. He could vaguely understand the mindset of those older men who parked their luxury cars outside university campuses.

Speaking of older men, he wondered if he qualified as one. He felt like a ship of Theseus, unable to discern his own identity anymore.

“I love teddy bears.” Chu Jingyi fiddled with her tie, drawing Lu Li’s gaze to her chest. It wasn’t as impressive as Sister Yameng’s, more of a delicate, petite type that would fit perfectly in his hand.

“I like big bears.” They weren’t even on the same wavelength.

“Big bears are scary and smelly. I’ve seen one before. One of my uncles used to have a pet bear. I could hug it when it was small, but when it grew up, it had to be kept in a cage.” As expected of a super Second-Generation Official. Her family even had someone who could openly keep a bear as a pet.

“Big bears are soft and cuddly. Hugging one is very satisfying.” He teased her with a straight face.

“?” Chu Jingyi finally caught on. “What do you mean by cuddly? Bears aren’t cuddly. It’s not like the Black Bear Spirit from Journey to the West.”

Lu Li asked, “Why do you like teddy bears?”

“Because they’re cute. They’re fierce when they grow up, but when they’re small, they’re round and silly.” She gestured excitedly as she spoke, then realizing her actions were a bit unladylike, she stuck out her tongue and quickly put her hands behind her back.

“I think you’re pretty cute too.”

“Really…?”

They arrived at the Student Affairs Office. With Chu Jingyi handling things, the process was quick. The teacher in charge made a few calls and sorted out the paperwork, saving Lu Li a lot of trouble. This was a classic example of how connections could smooth things over. Often, it wasn’t that efficient methods didn’t exist; it was that people didn’t want to take responsibility, so they preferred to do as little as possible.

Lu Li took the documents and went to the logistics department to collect the key to the activity classroom. Then, without wasting any time, he headed towards the designated classroom in Building Three. Silly Goose followed behind him like an obedient puppy.

“Wow, so much dust! Cough, cough!” As he opened the door, a cloud of dust billowed out, making Chu Jingyi cover her eyes.

Lu Li shielded her with his arm, pulling her close. “Wait outside. I’ll clean it up.”

She didn’t move. He looked down and saw her standing there, her face flushed.

“What’s wrong?”

“You remind me of my dad.”

“What?”

“You’re protecting me like my dad. When I was little, we went to the park, and some kids were throwing a baseball around. My dad shielded me like this.”

“…” Lu Li gently pushed her out of the classroom without a word. Her words were a dangerous sign. Everyone was deeply influenced by their upbringing. Their aspirations, especially in terms of romantic partners, were often shaped by their parents. Men often sought women who resembled their gentle mothers, and women sought men who embodied the strength of their fathers. Everyone had an Oedipus complex. When a girl said you reminded her of her father, it often meant she had special feelings for you.

He didn’t want to deceive her. After a failed marriage, he had become like a curled-up hedgehog, reluctant to open his heart to anyone, even someone as pure as Chu Jingyi.

With a mix of emotions swirling in his mind, he picked up a broom and started cleaning the classroom, which had been abandoned for who knows how long. He saw students from other clubs passing by outside the window. Some were from the Go Club, debating whether traditional Go was still relevant in this day and age. Some were from the Swimming Club, the girls wearing only their swimsuits with a jacket thrown over, their goggles still on. Some were serious-looking bookworms, probably from the Literature Club.

While he was lost in thought, Chu Jingyi returned with a mop and started mopping the floor behind him, humming cheerfully.

He looked at her with amusement. “Eager to work for me even before joining the club?”

“I just thought you were working too hard.”

“Shouldn’t you be in class, class monitor?”

“It’s… it’s okay to miss one class.” She seemed a bit nervous but puffed out her chest, trying to appear brave.

For students, rebellious acts like skipping class, smoking, and fighting seemed to hold a strange allure, as if mastering these skills somehow elevated their status. Silly Goose was clearly still in that phase. Lu Li sensed a strange admiration in her, perhaps for his cynicism, his horror games, or his disregard for rules. For a girl who always followed the rules, someone like him, who existed outside those rules, was undoubtedly fascinating.

But this wasn’t a good thing. The furthest thing from “understanding” was “worship.” The more Chu Jingyi acted like this, the less he wanted to hurt her.

“That’s not how you mop a floor. You clearly don’t do chores at home.” He pointed out her mistakes. Her posture was all wrong, her movements too gentle. She was practically caressing the floor.

Chu Jingyi blushed. She really didn’t do chores at home. Aunt Wang took care of everything. When Aunt Wang wasn’t around, her dad would do the housework. It never fell on the women in the household.

“I’ll learn how to do chores in the future,” she declared, as if making a solemn vow.

Lu Li was taken aback. He wanted to say that whether she learned to do chores or not had nothing to do with him, but he held his tongue. After receiving his guidance, she became incredibly diligent, like a child eager to impress, working hard under his watchful eye. Just then, they heard An Baili’s voice outside the classroom.

“Lu Li, are you in here?”

No! He wanted to shout. The last person he wanted to see was An Baili. But Silly Goose, hearing her voice, was about to respond. He quickly covered her mouth, pulling her into a tight embrace, her scent filling his senses.

“Shh, don’t let her find us.”

Silly Goose struggled for a moment before going still in his arms. Just as he was about to let go, he heard An Baili’s slow, dragging footsteps outside the door.

Vol2 Chapter 9: Hidden Dangers

When An Baili arrived at the Low-Rent District, she saw her father sprawled on the ground like a corpse. Was he dead? She wondered, a flicker of malice crossing her mind. If only he were truly gone. To her disappointment, An Gulai, sensing her presence, turned his head, tear stains still visible on his face. “Who the hell told you to come here?”

She didn’t answer. She didn’t dare to.

The streetlights flickered on, casting a harsh light on An Gulai, the world seeming to shrink into a prison cell.

“Get lost before I lose my temper.”

“They said you were beaten almost to death.”

“Not dead yet.”

“Let me take you home.”

“I don’t need your help.”

An Baili stood there, unsure of what to do. Hearing no further response, An Gulai assumed she had left and began to sob quietly like a child. She heard him murmur, “Jinliu, I almost got to join you today.” Hearing those words, the emotions she had suppressed all day erupted. She threw the unopened box of band-aids she was holding at him.

“Why is it always like this?!”

“Why am I never the most important person in your eyes?!”

“You, Li, everyone… Am I just a worthless piece of trash? No matter what I do, nothing changes!”

She didn’t know if she was crying. She only felt numb, a sensation she hadn’t experienced since… a long time ago, the day Lu Li and Wen Hupo got married. She had received the invitation, her heart so heavy with grief that it had gone numb. The deepest sorrows didn’t strike like thunder; they crept in slowly, insidiously, in the quiet hours of the night.

She had tried so hard. She had done everything she could to change herself, to pursue her own happiness. But her father was forever lost in his memories of her mother, and she had never truly reached Lu Li’s heart. Every move she made was an imitation of Wen Hupo. She had merely replicated what Wen Hupo had done, changing her fate, becoming the bride instead. But why had Lu Li still left her in the end? Was it because, at her core, she wasn’t Wen Hupo?

An Gulai, struck in the face by the box, was about to explode, but seeing his daughter’s tear-streaked face, he was reminded of his beloved wife. He wiped the dirt and blood from his face and reached out to take An Baili’s hand. A sudden urge surged through him, the desire to act like a father, to say, “Let’s go home.”

But as his hand reached out, An Baili flinched, mistaking it for a threat. She stumbled back, and his hand froze in mid-air. He let out a self-deprecating chuckle.

In the distance, Zhou Haiming, Chen Shiwei, and Ruan Qian watched the father and daughter.

“That’s his daughter?” Zhou Haiming narrowed his eyes.

Chen Shiwei said, “The daughter pays for the father’s sins. He’s crazy, so let her pay the price.”

Ruan Qian instinctively felt uneasy, but she didn’t dare to object. She only suggested, “Should we tell Brother Lu? He’s smart. Let him decide.”

“Brother Lu is too kind. He wouldn’t have the heart to do it.” Zhou Haiming shook his head. “We’ll take care of this ourselves. We’re already worthless anyway. We have to make that old bastard regret what he did!”

The next day.

An Baili had dressed up again, looking fresh and lovely. It was as if Lu Li’s harsh words the day before had no effect on her. Seeing him, she still ran up to him with a smile, greeting him cheerfully. Even when he ignored her, her face remained bright as she chattered about trivial matters, like a colorful butterfly fluttering around him.

Love was like quicksand. The more you struggled, the deeper you sank.

She was talking about how she liked to add extra sugar to her cooking when she saw Chu Jingyi hurrying towards them. The way Silly Goose ran was so girlish, it was obvious that she didn’t exercise regularly. As always, the class monitor greeted them cheerfully. For her, meeting her best friends was the perfect way to start the day.

She pulled out a lunchbox from her bag. “My mom made some snacks. Let’s share.” This ordinary sentence from Silly Goose suddenly silenced An Baili. She took the egg tart Chu Jingyi offered and took a bite. The aroma of eggs filled her mouth, along with a hint of sweet and sour grapes.

Beside the lunchbox was a folder. Silly Goose took it out and handed it to Lu Li. “My dad said to give this to you personally.”

Lu Li was taken aback. He had only reported the incident with An Gulai to Secretary Long yesterday. Had he already received a response from Chu Xiaodong? Since when was the government so efficient? Or was Chu Xiaodong giving him special treatment?

He opened the folder. It contained An Gulai’s personal information, along with an official response from Chu Xiaodong. After a quick glance, he closed the folder. Chu Xiaodong suggested he take the information to the tax bureau and file a complaint, using the grounds of An Gulai’s failure to pay taxes on behalf of his ward to request enforcement action. He also specifically warned Lu Li against taking matters into his own hands. An Gulai had a special status. He was a fourth-level aristocrat, a descendant of a martyr, his ancestors having made significant contributions during the war. Just because his family had fallen from grace didn’t mean he wasn’t still a noble.

Shenzhou’s transition to a constitutional monarchy hadn’t been complete. The systems of royalty and nobility remained in place, and An Gulai was a beneficiary of that system.

The document also mentioned that An Gulai had a daughter who was currently studying at Chuanhai No. 1 High School.

“What are you looking at?” An Baili approached, craning her neck to peek at the document. “Jingyi, what did you give Lu Li? It’s so thick. Study materials?”

“I don’t know. My dad told me not to look. He said it’s only for Lu Li.”

“Is your dad that close to Lu Li?”

Chu Jingyi beamed. “Yes, my dad likes Lu Li a lot!”

An Baili pouted, feeling a surge of annoyance. She felt like Chu Jingyi was becoming increasingly stupid, not intellectually, but in other ways. Pets would expose their bellies to their owners as a sign of submission and obedience, hoping to earn their affection. They said love made women stupid. Perhaps it was similar to a pet exposing its belly.

Since Lu Li’s return from Lingyue City, his relationship with Chu Jingyi had become noticeably closer. He would always look out for her, and she would constantly seek his opinion. They were polite and considerate towards each other, a picture of harmony.

An Baili felt a wave of helplessness, especially when it came to Chu Jingyi.

When she thought of Wen Hupo or Zou Yameng, she only felt hostility and a sense of competition. But Chu Jingyi evoked feelings of inferiority and powerlessness. To her, the class monitor was simply too perfect. A perfect family, a perfect life, perfect looks, a perfect personality. She had always lived a sheltered, perfect life. She and Lu Li were from different worlds.

An Baili stared at the folder in Lu Li’s hand, her eyes darting back and forth, plotting something.

V2 C8: The True First Meeting

“Sister Zou…” Facing Zou Yameng, Ruan Qian was visibly intimidated, her voice shrinking. Back in the day, Ruan Qian had idolized Zou Yameng. However, due to the ongoing feud between Zhou Haiming and Lu Li, she had kept her distance. Lu Li glanced at his sister’s bandaged ankle. “Sis, were you eavesdropping at the door?”

“It’s not eavesdropping when it concerns my brother.”

“Sure, sure. But you should stay home and rest, Sister Yameng. I’ll go with Ruan Qian.” He cut off her protests. “You’ll only distract me if you come along in that state. Besides, it might not even be a fight. Maybe Zhou Haiming and Chen Shiwei have already subdued their opponent.”

“You have to message me if anything happens!” Zou Yameng wasn’t one to fuss unnecessarily. “And try to avoid fighting if you can, okay?”

In youth, violence was often the preferred solution to problems. A strong body could offer many advantages in those years. Having lived two lives, Lu Li’s approach to problem-solving had shifted from brute force to using his brain. Faced with this sudden situation, he found himself momentarily unsure of what to do. He followed Ruan Qian out of the Low-Rent District, arriving at a construction site ten minutes later. The place was already crowded with onlookers.

Zhou Haiming and Chen Shiwei were pinning An Gulai to the ground, each holding one of his arms twisted behind his back. Their faces were contorted with rage. “You bastard! You still think you can act all high and mighty with us? We’ll break your arms if you don’t tell us what we want to know!”

An Gulai was a middle-aged man in his forties, his face haggard and unkempt. He wore a faded black leather jacket and baggy jeans. If you said he was homeless, no one would question it. But looking closely at his features, you could still see traces of his former handsomeness.

Held down without any dignity by the two ruthless teenagers, his expression remained calm. “Even if you break my arms, I can’t pay you back. I have nothing but this worthless life. Do you dare take it?” His words enraged Zhou Haiming, making him want to strangle the man.

Lu Li arrived just in time. “Zhou Haiming, Chen Shiwei.”

“Brother Lu?”

“Brother Lu, it’s this bastard! He was the one who led the scam to steal the subsidies!”

Lu Li didn’t respond. There were too many people around, and some things were best not said in public, especially since this involved the local government. If this turned into a scandal, Chu Xiaodong would be the first to call him in for a talk. Moreover, Zhou Haiming and Chen Shiwei were acting like thugs, and some onlookers were already recording the scene with their phones. It was unwise to continue this confrontation here. He crouched in front of An Gulai, studying him silently before asking calmly, “Mr. An, can we talk?”

“You their leader? Huh.”

“Come with me.” Lu Li didn’t want his face caught on camera. He turned and walked towards the Low-Rent District. Zhou Haiming and Chen Shiwei dragged the limp An Gulai behind them. Once they were away from the crowd, Lu Li told them to throw An Gulai by the roadside.

Years ago, Chuanhai had implemented an orphan assistance program, assigning guardians and providing living allowances to the orphans in the Low-Rent District. Back then, Lu Li had been taken from the orphanage, confused and disoriented, and brought to the district. He was too young to understand what was happening, only remembering a blur of adults talking to him in confusing terms. He had been shuffled from the orphanage to the hospital, to some apartment complex, and finally, like a piece of cargo, dumped in the Low-Rent District. For him, this place was where his life truly began. He had often wondered, if his assigned guardian hadn’t been a con artist, would his life have been different?

Instead of immediately questioning the half-dead An Gulai, he turned to Zhou Haiming. “How did you find him?”

“Didn’t Ruan Qian mention his name last time? I kept my ears open these past few days, asking around, and I actually found him at the construction site.”

An Gulai gasped for air, sneering. “That’s because I’m the only idiot who used his real name. I wasn’t even hiding. You think you kids could have found me otherwise?”

“It was you back then?”

“Of course it was me. I needed money, so I took it. What’s wrong with that? As for you lot, heh, you’re just trash from the Low-Rent District. No one would care if you starved to death on the streets.” An Gulai made no attempt to hide his actions. He eagerly recounted the events of that year, his words laced with malice, hoping to provoke a reaction from Lu Li. But to his disappointment, Lu Li’s expression remained as calm as still water, his eyes as deep as the abyss, his thoughts unreadable.

An Gulai’s explanation revealed that he had been the mastermind behind the scheme to defraud the government. He had brought his “co-workers” to apply as guardians. After receiving the money, they had all disappeared, leaving only An Gulai behind. He hadn’t even bothered to cover his tracks all these years.

It could only be said that the children of the Low-Rent District had limited access to information. Their enemy had been living in the same city, and they had only found him today.

“How did you manage to get your co-workers through the guardian qualification process?” This was a procedural question, one Lu Li was asking not for himself, but for Chu Xiaodong. A group of workers without even a fixed residence had somehow managed to become legal guardians. There had to be something fishy going on.

An Gulai suddenly fell silent. He realized that Lu Li wasn’t seeking revenge. Continuing to provoke him would be pointless.

The middle-aged man sighed and lay on the ground, looking at Zhou Haiming. “Well? Why aren’t you hitting me anymore?”

“Answer Brother Lu’s question!”

“Hit me! Hit me! Kill me, you bastards!” An Gulai suddenly roared, his outburst startling everyone, including Lu Li. His emotional swings were too extreme, too erratic.

He burst into tears, grabbing Zhou Haiming’s hand and slamming it against his own head. “Kill me! Kill me!”

Zhou Haiming recoiled in shock, jumping back several steps as if An Gulai was a plague carrier.

“Brother Lu, is he mentally ill?”

Zhou Haiming initially thought An Gulai was putting on an act. Mental illness often offered leniency in legal cases. Perhaps that was how he had evaded punishment all these years? But if it was an act, it was incredibly convincing. His face was contorted with anguish, his wrinkles seeming to deepen, a stark contrast to his previous defiant demeanor.

“You’ve been searching for me all these years! Don’t you want me dead?! Come on!”

Zhou Haiming and the others were just teenagers. In their anger, they had truly wanted to kill An Gulai. But now, faced with his breakdown, they were at a loss. They had beaten him, they had cursed him, could they really kill him? Reporting him to the police was pointless; the statute of limitations had long passed.

Lu Li didn’t know if he was truly mentally ill, but he definitely had self-destructive tendencies. He watched as An Gulai alternated between crying and shouting, pounding his head with his fists, as if punishing himself. Pain was eternal. It wouldn’t disappear; it would only shift. Those in power would transfer their pain to those below them, and so on, the cycle continuing. When the weak received this pain, unable to vent their anger outward, they would turn it inwards, seeking to eliminate the source of their pain – their own existence. This was the root of self-destruction.

Those who longed for death were often like this.

An Gulai had been seeking death all along. That was why he had allowed himself to be found. He was waiting to die.

Only now did they realize that An Gulai was, perhaps, truly insane.

“He’s not mentally ill, he’s just a coward.” Lu Li addressed Zhou Haiming, but his next words were directed at An Gulai. “If you really want to die, stop pretending to hit yourself with your fists. There are rocks and broken glass on the ground. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and use a little force. You’ll be free soon enough.”

“Brother Lu… what…?” Zhou Haiming and the others were shocked by his words. They were angry, but they didn’t want to be responsible for a life.

“Let’s just leave him.” Lu Li had lost interest in pursuing this further. He didn’t know what An Gulai had gone through, but for a cowardly man seeking death, interrogation would only provide him with a perverse sense of satisfaction. Knowing his name and address was enough. He would leave the rest to Chu Xiaodong.

“Are we just going to let him go?” Ruan Qian’s eyes flashed with hatred. She bit her lip, staring at An Gulai. What could be more tragic than finally finding your enemy, only to discover he was a broken man?

Lu Li didn’t offer her a definitive answer. Everyone’s hatred was different. He had no right to speak for her. “Do as you please.” He walked up to the stunned Zhou Haiming, patted his shoulder, and said nothing. When he had first heard the news about finding An Gulai, he had been filled with excitement and a thirst for revenge. This was the first time in both his lives that he had found the culprit who had wronged him and his sister. But now, facing the half-mad man, he only felt a sense of absurdity.

A forty-year-old man, shamelessly crying and screaming on the street, alternating between mocking them and pleading with them, his appearance pitiful and pathetic.

An Baili returned home, her heart heavy. She unlocked the door and made herself a simple dinner. She had barely taken a few bites when she heard a knock. An Gulai never knocked. He would bang on the door and yell. If she didn’t open it, he would break in through the window. The living room window was still broken from one of his outbursts.

She took a deep breath and reluctantly opened the door. It was the neighborhood committee aunt. Her first words stunned An Baili.

“Your dad got beaten up!”

Vol2 Chapter 7: Sneaking Around

Back in the classroom, An Baili’s seat was still empty, while Silly Goose was daydreaming at her desk. Seeing Lu Li approach, Chu Jingyi looked at him with that same hesitant expression. He deliberately glanced at her shoes, worried that she might have followed him and An Baili to the rooftop and eavesdropped on their conversation. But seeing her clueless expression, he chuckled to himself, realizing he was being paranoid.

Anyone could have eavesdropped, except for Silly Goose. Even if he jumped off a building, he would still believe that.

“Lu Li, um, about that…” Chu Jingyi called out to him. “Actually, there’s something else I wanted to tell you…”

“Hmm?”

“Well, Lu Li… I’m sorry…” She suddenly bowed deeply, startling him.

Lu Li jumped back, quickly helping her up. How could he, a nobody, accept an apology from the daughter of the Chuanhai Prime Minister? With a snap of her fingers, he would be packing his bags and leaving Chuanhai City. He forced a smile. “What are you apologizing for?”

“I thought you and An Baili were a couple, and I made a lot of assumptions and arrangements. I must have bothered you.”

“That? I thought we cleared that up last time.” Lu Li was confused as to why she was bringing it up again. Hadn’t they talked about it on the phone?

“I just felt like I needed to formally apologize.” Silly Goose stuck out her tongue. When a girl, especially a pretty girl like Chu Jingyi, did that, it looked adorable. But when a woman got older, it just seemed greasy. So Lu Li firmly believed that sticking out your tongue was something you should do while you were young!

“It’s no big deal.”

“There’s one more thing… well, how should I put it?”

Chu Jingyi looked strange, like she was lying or making something up on the spot. It reminded him of himself in his previous life, pitching ideas to investors, making up stories and exaggerating facts. It was quite similar to Chu Jingyi’s current demeanor. If An Baili had acted like this, he would have stormed off. People had a strange bias. If an honest person did something, most people would assume it was an honest act without questioning it. But if a cunning person did something, even if it was proven to be legitimate, most people would still believe it was some kind of trickery.

“Ah, it’s about the study… study group. Would you like to join my study group? You see, the midterms are coming up, so…”

“Sure.” Lu Li agreed readily, then added cautiously, “Is An Baili joining too?”

“N-no, Baili… she… she can’t.” Her lies were full of holes.

He had a pretty good grasp of this girl’s thoughts. Chu Jingyi probably wanted to make amends for her past mistakes. That was how innocent girls were. They would immediately try to compensate for any wrongdoing, afraid of causing trouble. Thinking this, his tone softened.

“What will we do in the study group? How many people are there?”

Chu Jingyi blushed, stammering. “Well, just two… for now.” She had been too careless. She should have prepared a script beforehand. She admired people who could lie effortlessly. Just a few simple lies were making her avoid his gaze. But his eyes were so gentle, so warm… It made her feel strangely comforted.

Lu Li chuckled. Silly Goose starting a study group was one thing, but doing it so secretively, like they were engaging in some illicit activity, was incredibly endearing.

He lowered his voice, playing along. “Okay, let’s keep this under wraps.”

“O-okay!” She actually responded seriously.

If Silly Goose ever became an undercover agent, the world would be ending. How could someone as shrewd as Chu Xiaodong have raised such a naive daughter? No, it was precisely because he was so shrewd that Chu Jingyi could thrive in a sheltered environment.

Just as Lu Li thought the conversation was over, Silly Goose tugged at his sleeve again.

“Lu Li, do you really hate Baili?”

“Yes.”

It was hard to say who was more at fault in their relationship, but at least he knew they were fundamentally incompatible. A flawed love would only lead to a flawed marriage, hurting both individuals, both families, and even innocent children. He didn’t want to relive that with An Baili. Not at all.

“You… you won’t lie to me again, right?” She asked cautiously.

What did she mean by “again”? Did he often lie to her? Even if he did, they were just small, harmless lies. As the saying went, a scholar’s lies weren’t lies; they were copyright fees…

“Pinky promise.” She extended her little finger, her delicate hand pale and smooth, her nails neatly trimmed. She seemed to have a habit of making pinky promises. Perhaps they held a special significance in her world.

“No, that’s childish.”

“Liar…” She pouted, and he almost couldn’t resist poking her cheek.

“Pinky promise.” She repeated, her voice softer, almost pleading.

He wanted to hear it again, so he deliberately said, “No.”

“Please~”

His entire body tingled. He quickly agreed. “Okay, okay, I’ll promise anything.” He couldn’t blame King Zhou of Shang. When a pretty girl acted cute, it was hard for a man to resist, his protective instincts and vanity both satisfied.

“Pinky swear, a hundred years, no changes. Whoever breaks it will be…”

Lu Li answered quickly, “Whoever breaks it will be a big white goose.”

“Why a big white goose?”

“Because big white geese are silly and clueless.”

“Really?” She tilted her head, thinking seriously. “That seems right. You know so much.”

And so, their secret intelligence organization, no, their study group, was established. Little did Lu Li know that the promise he had just made to Chu Jingyi was the beginning of his descent into another whirlpool…

After school that day, Lu Li received a WeChat message from his sister.

[Sister Yameng: Someone’s knocking on your door. I didn’t answer. I don’t know who it is.]

When he rushed back to his apartment, he saw an unexpected visitor.

“Ruan Qian? What are you doing here?” It was the girl who was always with Zhou Haiming. She had copied his smoky eye makeup and was pacing anxiously outside his door.

“Brother Lu, you’re finally back!”

“Where are Zhou Haiming and Chen Shiwei? Aren’t you always together? Come in and sit down.” He was about to unlock the door when Ruan Qian blurted out, “We ran into that An Gulai! Haiming and Shiwei got into a fight with him! Brother Lu, please help us!”

His eyes sharpened. “An Gulai? The same An Gulai you mentioned before?”

“Little Pear, what’s wrong?” Zou Yameng opened her door next door. “Is there a fight? Count me in!”

v2c6: Pretending and Pretending

Lu Li undid the top button of his shirt, freeing his neck from its constricting embrace. His eyes were clouded, his vision blurry. He swung his suit jacket around like a rag, leaning against the wall by the entrance, completely disoriented. An Baili, hearing the commotion, emerged from the living room.

“Li, have you been drinking again?”

“…Couldn’t avoid it. Business…” His words slurred, his tongue battling his teeth.

He reached out, wanting An Baili to help him steady himself. Perhaps it was the alcohol, but his legs felt weak, unable to support his weight. But his wife’s helping hand didn’t come. He searched for her with his hazy vision. “Help me…”

“You promised you’d come home early today. I’ve been waiting since six.” Was An Baili complaining? Lu Li couldn’t tell if she was being petulant or simply stating a fact.

“Business…”

“Do you even know what day it is today?”

Lu Li rummaged through his muddled brain, grasping for an answer. “The day to meet Mr. Li?”

“It’s our seventh anniversary!” He couldn’t decipher her tone. His head felt like it was filled with mercury, heavy and aching, a chilling sensation. He tried to smile, but the alcohol twisted it into a cynical sneer. “Heh.”

This is bad. He thought to himself, but he was so tired, all he wanted was to sleep.

“Help me… I’ll shower tomorrow… not today…” He mumbled incoherently, reaching out again.

An Baili still didn’t take his hand. Under the bright living room lights, he could see that she had put on makeup and was wearing a tea-colored dress – the one she had worn on their first date. It was faded and slightly frayed, but she had kept it all these years. She looked beautiful, ethereal like a goddess. Lu Li chuckled foolishly. “Venus, is that you?”

His arm hung in the air, his shoulder aching. He slumped forward, ready to fall asleep right there in the entrance. An Baili shook him awake but didn’t say anything. A sliver of clarity returned to him. “What do you want?”

“This isn’t the first time you’ve stood me up! Last time, you promised to go shopping with me, but you ended up meeting Chen Jianing instead!”

“…She’s my business partner…”

“And the time before that…”

Lu Li pressed his hand against his head. “Stop it, I’m dizzy. Let me rest, okay? Honey?”

Not this again. The thought crossed both their minds. Lu Li sighed. This wasn’t the first time An Baili had thrown a tantrum. He had his reasons. Why couldn’t she understand? Who would willingly drink with capitalists every night if it wasn’t for their family? An Baili, you’re not a student anymore.

“…No…” An Baili pouted, her eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions. “You have to stay with me tonight. I… I’m wearing stockings…”

“Honey.”

“Hmm…”

“Please, just let me sleep.” His voice was pleading.

But it was that tone that stung her. Why did he always sound so accommodating? What was so unreasonable about her request? This was the fourth time he had stood her up this year. Every time, she would prepare excitedly, and he would come home reeking of alcohol. The first time, she had smiled and told him to rest. The second time, she had silently helped him sober up. The third time, she had gotten angry. This was the fourth.

Why was he so happy when he was with Wen Hupo? Why was it so difficult with her? She didn’t dare to delve deeper into those thoughts. An Baili bit her lip and grabbed his sleeve. She needed him to spend their anniversary with her tonight, as if that would prove she was no less worthy than Wen Hupo.

Seeing her stubbornness, Lu Li finally snapped. “Baili.”

She ignored him, pouting angrily.

“Our wedding anniversary is one thing, but now we have our dating anniversary, our first date anniversary, our hand-holding anniversary!” He exploded. “We’re celebrating some nonsensical anniversary seven or eight days a month! Don’t I have to work? What are you thinking?!”

“You don’t work that much! We have enough money!” An Baili argued back.

“What about our future children? We need more money to maintain this lifestyle! We need to make sure the company can run smoothly even without me managing it!” His voice rose.

“Are you blaming me for not being able to have children?”

His tone softened. “Honey, that’s not what I meant. The doctor said it’s not a problem with either of us…” It was strange. Both of them were perfectly healthy, so why couldn’t they conceive?

But An Baili was fixated on her own insecurities. “That’s not what you said before! You said you would love me forever even if we didn’t have children!”

I still love you! He wanted to shout, but his mind was too heavy, and the words felt too sincere. His mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out.

He just wanted to sleep. He would apologize and make it up to her tomorrow. It would be fine. Thinking this, he closed his eyes. Arguing with a drunk person was pointless, and An Baili was currently that pointless person. Seeing him ignoring her, she felt utterly wronged and shook him awake again. “No, you have to spend time with me tonight.”

“…” He remained silent, his anger simmering.

Seven years, and An Baili hadn’t changed. She was still like a child who refused to grow up. He had always believed that she would mature, so he had pretended to be a father encouraging his daughter, showering her with care and attention. An Baili had also pretended to be an obedient wife, even though it went against her nature. They were both pretending. Today, Lu Li finally realized that he hadn’t changed her; she had changed him.

That was the first time they had a big fight. He couldn’t remember what hurtful words he had said in his drunken state, only that when he woke up the next morning, An Baili’s bedside table was piled high with tear-stained tissues. He had rushed to apologize, but she had found him first, admitting her mistakes, her demeanor so humble that she seemed to have lost herself – she had always been like that.

He felt nothing but helplessness and a sense of being lost.

It seemed they had never been compatible from the start.

Now, listening to young An Baili’s sobs, he remembered the mountain of tissues beside their bed. The tears had dried, but the wounds remained. The love he desired was one of equality, a partnership, not a master and his possession. Why didn’t she understand? Where did her obsession come from? Lu Li leaned against the wall, his heart heavy.

The hardest thing to bear was a beautiful woman’s kindness, the hardest thing to repay was her love. No matter what he chose, it would only compound the mistake. The best solution was to nip it in the bud.

******

The following are the author notes, Just a note to beware:

(The following storyline in this volume will focus on An Baili and will be quite depressing initially.)

v2c5: Dying on the Beach

On the first day back at school, Lu Li noticed something was off about Chu Jingyi. While Silly Goose was usually quite quirky, today she was acting even stranger than usual. Ever since he had entered the classroom, she had been sneaking glances at him, clearly wanting to say something, but whenever he turned to look at her, she would quickly avert her gaze and pretend to be admiring the scenery.

Had he become more handsome? Lu Li touched his cheek, feeling a surge of narcissism. He hadn’t expected another growth spurt at sixteen. How remarkable.

Just then, a wave of murmurs rippled through the classroom. Lu Li looked up, his expression freezing. Fine, Chu Jingyi being strange was one thing, but what was going on with An Baili? Today, she had taken off her thick-rimmed glasses, her braids were undone, and her long, black hair cascaded down her back. Her features were delicate, her smile captivating. She looked like a beautiful girl straight out of a painting. Honestly, in terms of appearance alone, An Baili definitely ranked first in his heart.

If West Lake was compared to Xi Shi, she would be beautiful with both heavy and light makeup.

An Baili twirled in front of his desk, her skirt swirling around her. “Li, do I look pretty today?”

Very pretty. The boys in the class were practically drooling. Seeing her approach Lu Li so openly, they pounded their chests in frustration, regretting their ignorance for overlooking such a stunning girl.

Lu Li remained silent, pretending not to notice. Complimenting a woman’s appearance was a rather intimate act, especially coming from a man. From a male perspective, “pretty” often equated to sexual attractiveness. In both his lives, he had only genuinely complimented two women: An Baili and Sister Yameng.

If An Baili was like Xi Shi, beautiful with both heavy and light makeup, then Sister Yameng was like Mulan, valiant and heroic. As for Chu Jingyi, with her silly personality, she was probably like a simple foot soldier, charging headfirst into battle.

A warm sensation brushed against his cheek. Lu Li flinched, taking a step back. An Baili had kissed him while he was lost in thought! He stared at her, trying to figure out what had gotten into her today. She simply smiled brightly, tiptoeing back to her seat. Chu Jingyi, sitting beside her, gaped, her mouth wide enough to fit a melon.

A thousand questions swirled in her mind, but Chu Jingyi managed to hold them back. She could tell that An Baili was waiting for her to ask, a smug smile on her face.

“They’re all liars… deceiving me,” Chu Jingyi muttered.

She trusted Lu Li and Baili so much, but why did they keep things from her? Her eyes fixated on the faint, moist mark on Lu Li’s cheek, her heart aching. She pulled out a tissue and handed it to him. “Wipe your face.”

Lu Li took the tissue, momentarily confused before understanding her meaning.

“Jingyi, do you have something to tell me?” he asked, taking the initiative.

“…Yes.” She hesitated. “You didn’t join any clubs last year, right? Would you like to join our High School Volunteer Club?”

The student volunteer club? Perhaps their intentions were good, but under the influence of the system, they had lost their original meaning. Expecting self-discipline to improve morality was unrealistic. The most direct and effective motivator for doing good deeds was material wealth. The student volunteer club at Chuanhai No. 1 High School was just a playground for rich kids. Of course, he wasn’t including Chu Jingyi in that assessment.

“I’m planning to start my own club.”

“Start your own club? But you’ll be a senior next year. You’ll have to quit.”

“I know.” Lu Li was honest. “I’m going to start a game development club. I’ll put down our computer teacher as the advisor and forge his signature.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to join the High School Volunteer Club? I’m the president, you know~” Chu Jingyi tried to tempt him.

“I’m planning to recruit you as a founding member of my game development club. What do you say, class monitor? Are you interested?”

Chu Jingyi was actually tempted. Starting a club from scratch with Lu Li? It sounded… a tiny bit, a teeny bit, a smidgen interesting. She opened and closed her mouth, unable to form a coherent sentence.

“I want to join too!” An Baili suddenly interjected.

“I didn’t invite you.”

“I’m requesting to join! If you don’t agree, I’ll cry! Class is about to start, and everyone is here. If I cry, everyone will notice us, right?” An Baili puffed out her chest.

Once you gave in to a threat, there would be a second, a third. The best way to deal with threats was to eliminate the source.

“If you cry too quietly, I’ll be disappointed.” Lu Li scoffed.

He was someone who responded to softness, not force. If An Baili had asked nicely, he might have agreed. But before the emperor could speak, the eunuch had jumped in. Silly Goose quickly grabbed An Baili’s hand. “Hey, Baili, don’t! Lu Li, just agree. It’s not a big deal. If you agree, I’ll join your club too!”

So she wasn’t threatening him; she was threatening Chu Jingyi. Lu Li looked at An Baili, realizing she had become much smarter. From the moment she entered the classroom, she had been trying to gain the upper hand. He, on the other hand, had been slow to catch on. He glared at An Baili.

“Since Jingyi insists, fine.”

After morning reading, Lu Li walked straight up to An Baili, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her outside. “I need to talk to you.”

He dragged her to the rooftop, pushing her against the wall. An Baili smiled seductively. “What’s wrong? Am I too pretty for you to resist? Be careful not to finish inside. It’ll be messy to clean up during class.”

“I thought I made myself clear last time.” His expression remained unchanged.

“Li, I know your personality, your hobbies, your weaknesses, everything. I know who you truly are. But do you even know me?” An Baili asked a question that should have been absurd, making him pause. Who was An Baili? Before his rebirth, he could have easily answered that question. Now, however, he couldn’t understand her anymore.

“I exist only for you.” Words that should have been a vow of eternal love sent shivers down his spine coming from her.

“No matter what, I won’t give up on you. Unless you kill me. Push me off this roof, and An Baili will be gone. No one will bother you anymore.” Her voice trembled as she spoke. Clearly, she wasn’t a heartless witch after all.

Couples who were madly in love rarely lasted. Love fueled by passion would die on the beach when the tide receded. Lu Li had believed that his relationship with An Baili was like that, but now it seemed she thought differently. Their views had been fundamentally different from the start.

“An Baili, I hate you now. Do you know why?”

Her pupils flickered, waiting for him to continue.

“Everyone in this world has their own identity, their own place. There are things they can and cannot do. So I ask you, what is the one thing a person should never do? Let me give you a hint: What are the most serious crimes in our penal code?”

An Baili slumped against the wall, defeated. “So… that’s it…”

Seeing her finally understand, Lu Li scoffed. “That’s it? How twisted are your morals? Did I have to spell it out for you?”

In their relationship, he was the one who had wronged her, the one who had broken his promise. He had felt guilty and remorseful when he asked for a divorce. But outside the context of their relationship, what An Baili had done was unforgivable. Being with her was like holding a time bomb, never knowing when it might explode and obliterate him.

Yandere characters were best left in fiction.

“Li, I can give you a reason to forgive me.”

“There’s no excuse for what you did.”

She clung to his arm, pleading. “Just this once. You’ll understand when you see ‘that thing.’”

“Haven’t you had enough?!” He had lost all patience. “Just this once,” she had said, over and over again. There would always be a next time, always more entanglement.

He shook off her hand and left the rooftop. As he pushed open the door to the stairwell, he paused. He had closed the door when he came up. Why was it ajar now? Without thinking too much about it, he hurried downstairs. Halfway down, he sighed and quietly turned back. He was worried that An Baili might do something reckless. She was capable of anything.

An Baili was still leaning against the wall, her only movement the soft sound of her sobs.

He couldn’t remember how many times he had hurt her since his rebirth. No matter how cold and heartless he pretended to be, he was still human. They had been husband and wife for a lifetime. How could he not have any feelings for her? He wouldn’t even be able to abandon a dog he had raised for so long, let alone a woman who had been devoted to him.

He crouched in the stairwell, separated from her by a single wall, their backs to each other. He listened silently to her cries. A husband who made his wife cry was a scumbag. Lu Li felt like a scumbag. No matter how noble his excuses were, he was the one who had abandoned her first.

What had gone wrong? He sat in the darkness, silent as a statue, his thoughts drifting back to familiar yet distant memories…

v2c4: The End of the Holiday

October 7th. The last day of the holiday. Lu Li took his hands off the keyboard and let out a long sigh. He had finally completed the task Chu Xiaodong had given him. He sent the document to Secretary Long and received a simple “Okay” in response. A moment later, another message arrived: “Excellent work! I’ll let you know as soon as there are any updates!”

Older professionals seemed to love using exclamation points. He wondered why.

Lu Li logged onto the Valve platform and checked the store page for the game he had developed. He had uploaded the demo version on the first day of the holiday. For independent game developers, releasing a demo early to attract attention was the most cost-effective approach.

There were only thirty-something downloads, which was normal. Games without any marketing were the hardest to get off the ground, regardless of their quality. Some good games only gained recognition after seven or eight years, but by then, the developers had often moved on to other, more sustainable careers. Out of those thirty-something downloads, he estimated three or four were accidental clicks, a few were random clicks, a few were from web crawlers, and a few were from YouTubers who specialized in reviewing terrible games.

There were also two comments.

One was a genuine player review: “The art is terrible…”

Lu Li cringed. Was the art really that bad? He had just used a basic drawing tool to create it. The main issue was that he hadn’t found a suitable artist yet. But the comment was positive overall, indicating that the game was decent apart from the art.

The other comment was less than genuine.

“Trash game! Not even worth a single hair on ‘Black Wolf’s Ring.’”

The username was a string of random characters.

Only two types of people would say something like that: a troll or Chen Jianing.

Lu Li hadn’t expected Chen Jianing to be online twenty-four hours a day, scouring the internet for any game that might compete with hers. “Black Wolf’s Ring” was her self-indulgent project, priced at sixty yuan, and overwhelmingly negatively reviewed. She spent her days arguing with haters in the comment section.

No one else but the eccentric Chen Jianing would leave a comment like that.

In his previous life, he had also met Chen Jianing after releasing a demo. If he calculated correctly, it should be around these days. A mischievous thought crossed his mind. He opened her private message window and sent a single message: “Plagiarist!” For creative professionals, “plagiarism” was the most damaging accusation. Chen Jianing hadn’t plagiarized anything, but that didn’t stop him from trying to get under her skin.

To his surprise, she replied almost instantly.

“Who are you calling a plagiarist?! FNNDP!(Bullshit)”

Judging by her message alone, you would never guess that the sender was a cute girl. Her profile indicated she was male, her avatar was Orochimaru, and her bio read, “This little mouse is working hard today!” Her online persona was so complex that it was impossible to associate her with the word “female.”

In reality, she was incredibly socially awkward and only felt comfortable expressing herself online.

Lu Li, determined to tease her further, typed: “You can’t even plagiarize properly! 90% negative reviews and you still have the nerve to advertise your game everywhere!” He chuckled as he typed, imagining her fuming.

As expected, she sent a long message defending herself. He replied with two words:

“Triggered.”

“Triggered,” “salty,” “filial piety,” “clam,” “numb” – these were the five magic words of online arguments. You didn’t even need to read what the other person was saying. Just send one of these words in response to their long-winded rant, and you would achieve spiritual victory, a more sophisticated form of self-deception. If they took you seriously, they would get angry and lose their composure. Chen Jianing was undoubtedly that kind of person.

“You idiot! Give me your address! I’ll send you some local specialties!”

She sent five or six more insults, clearly enraged.

This was the moment to ignore her, to let her stew in her frustration, unable to vent her anger. After ranting for a while, she saw that the jerk on the other end wasn’t responding. Just as she was about to log off in frustration, she received another message from Lu Li: “Pure dinner.”

Her anger flared up again. She typed out a furious response, ready to unleash her literary wrath, but then she saw a system notification – she had been blocked.

“Hahaha!” Lu Li laughed so hard his stomach hurt. He was certain that he had driven Chen Jianing to the brink of insanity. In his previous life, she had tormented him; now it was his turn. He felt no guilt whatsoever. She had a high tolerance for stress and even seemed to enjoy online arguments.

In his previous life, they had exchanged over two thousand comments, leaving onlookers speechless. It was that intense argument that had prompted Chen Jianing to challenge him to a real-life fight. When Lu Li arrived at the designated location, fully prepared for a brawl, he was stunned to see a petite girl standing there.

“Little Pear, what are you looking at? Why are you smiling so happily?” Zou Yameng limped into the room, leaning against the wall. Lu Li hurried to support her, his eyes involuntarily glancing at her bare legs. He was puzzled.

“Where did you get a computer?”

“Someone lent it to me.”

“Hmm…” Zou Yameng hummed, not pressing for details. “Is this your game? Are you planning to earn your college tuition with this?”

“Yes.”

“How much have you earned so far?”

“I’m still operating at a loss.”

Zou Yameng chuckled and looked at him with affection. “You’re so cute.”

“Am I?” He wasn’t pretending to be clueless.

In his sister’s eyes, everything he did was interpreted positively. If she called him cute, she probably meant he was silly. He didn’t bother explaining, just smiled sheepishly and helped her sit on the bed.

“Sis, do you want to watch a movie?”

“We can watch movies now?”

“Of course.” Lu Li paused, remembering that his sister had never been to a movie theater. Not just a movie theater, but also KFC, the aquarium, the amusement park… Their lives had been devoid of such entertainment. In elementary school, unable to write an essay, she had copied one from a book about a trip to the Children’s Palace. The teacher had caught her because there was no Children’s Palace in the Low-Rent District.

Other people had their childhoods; theirs was different.

“Comedy? Horror? Or romance?”

“No horror, no horror!” Zou Yameng quickly covered her eyes. “Put that picture away! The cover is so scary!”

Lu Li clicked on “Flipped.” “Sis, lean against the pillow. You’ll be more comfortable.”

“Come here and let me lean on you.”

Lu Li nodded obediently, sitting behind her, letting her snuggle against him, acting as her human cushion. The beautiful woman in his arms, the peaceful world around them… If only time could stop, freezing this moment forever. He couldn’t help but pick up a strand of her hair and gently blow on it, like blowing bubbles as a child.

“What are you doing? That tickles.” Zou Yameng looked up at him. He had grown taller than her, and now she could fit perfectly in his arms.

He thought she looked adorable with her flushed cheeks, her eyes sparkling like a clear spring pond in early spring. He suddenly pushed her away, sitting awkwardly with his legs pressed together. Zou Yameng stared at him, then smiled mischievously, saying nothing, yet everything was understood.

This holiday belonged to Zou Yameng.

v2c3: The Disparity of Humanity

“Wei Ge and Wei Zi went to work up north. A coal mine owner was looking for people to work in the mines, offering over ten thousand a month.” Sitting by the roadside, Shuming let out a bitter laugh. “They came back after the first year bragging about how much money they made. Then, in March this year, we heard they died in a mining accident.”

“They were only seventeen. How could they work in a mine?”

“I don’t know.” Shuming had picked up smoking. “Brother, want one?”

Lu Li didn’t smoke, but he still took the cigarette, mimicking Shuming’s posture and preparing to light it. Shuming suddenly chuckled. “Brother, you don’t usually smoke, do you? You won’t be able to light it like that. There’s no need to force yourself.”

Lu Li took the cigarette out of his mouth, smiling wryly. “I was afraid of creating a distance between us.”

“That’s all I needed to hear, Brother Lu. Honestly, when I saw you earlier, I felt like a peasant meeting the emperor.”

“That’s a bit of an exaggeration, don’t you think?”

“Everyone in the Low-Rent District knows you got into Chuanhai No. 1 High School. That school! Full of Second-Generation Officials and Second-Generation Rich! They say you’re going to be successful.” Shuming smacked his lips. “Even as kids, I knew you were smart and bold, always willing to take risks. I always figured you’d do better than us.”

If Chu Xiaodong had said those words, Lu Li wouldn’t have believed a single one. Coming from Shuming, however, it felt absurd, as if the old, spirited Shuming had died, replaced by someone who had learned to flatter and deceive.

“Ming Zi, do you remember where the others are now?”

“The others? From Renxin Elementary School?”

“Yes.”

“Most of them left. Only a few incompetent ones like me are still stuck here, scraping by.”

Lu Li sighed, saying nothing, yet saying everything. The situation of the unaccompanied minors in the Low-Rent District was far worse than he had imagined. He was relatively lucky, at least he had Zou Yameng, a sister who loved him.

“Can you tell me about your guardian?”

“…My guardian? I only met him once. He took the government subsidy and ran off. I almost starved to death on the streets. A kind stranger found me and took me to the hospital. I was so embarrassed, clinging to an empty grape juice bottle like it was a treasure. The nurses were all gathered around me, not knowing what to do.” Shuming chuckled, recalling the “funny” memory.

“Do you remember what he looked like, his identity, or his occupation?”

“I only remember he was an older man who spoke the Chuanhai dialect.”

Lu Li frowned thoughtfully.

His and Sister Yameng’s irresponsible guardians were also from Chuanhai, speaking the same dialect. Could there be a connection? After all these years, could they still find those scumbags who had cheated the system?

After chatting with Shuming for a while, Lu Li revealed that he had a “mission.” Shuming volunteered to take him to the few remaining minors in the Low-Rent District.

Shuming pushed his cart home and changed his clothes before they set off. They walked deeper into the district, the environment deteriorating with every step. Trash and unknown liquids littered the ground. Even sanitation workers avoided this area. Groups of emaciated people, haggard and gaunt, huddled in the shadows of the alleyways, like ghosts. This was the underbelly of the city, the shadow of civilization, a breeding ground for misery.

“Brother, be careful. They’re all drug addicts. Some of them are mentally unstable. They might try to blow drugs in your face if they see a normal person walking by,” Shuming warned.

“Okay.”

After walking through several streets, they reached an old, dilapidated residential building that looked like an abandoned construction project. A group of delinquent teenagers sat in front of the building, sharing a cigarette, passing it around after a few puffs. Seeing Shuming, they called out to him.

“Ming Zi, got any smokes?”

The old Shuming would have immediately groveled and offered them cigarettes. But the current Shuming simply raised an eyebrow and shouted, “Pipe down! Brother Lu is back. He has something to ask you!”

“Brother Lu? Who’s Brother Lu?”

“Damn, Lu Li!”

“Zou Yameng isn’t with him, is she?”

Lu Li couldn’t help but chuckle at their panicked expressions. He had been notorious in Renxin Elementary School for his mischievous antics, but his sister was different. Her reputation was built on her fists. From middle school to first grade, which kid hadn’t been beaten up by her? The delinquents at Renxin, unable to defeat her physically, had resorted to sticking notes that read “Violent Girl” on her desk, hoping to annoy her.

As a joke, even as an adult, if he ever fought his sister seriously, he would be easily defeated. He had often wondered, if he hadn’t met Zou Yameng, would she have become a gang leader?

Zhou Haiming, Chen Shiwei, and Ruan Qian. Looking at these familiar yet unfamiliar faces, Lu Li felt a mix of emotions. If he hadn’t been accepted into Chuanhai No. 1 High School, would he have ended up like them? Stuck at the bottom of society, living a life of oblivion, unaware of the world beyond their immediate surroundings.

“Lu Li, what do you want?” They were former classmates, after all. Zhou Haiming and the others sat up straighter, showing him some respect.

“I want to ask about your guardians.”

“We don’t have any.”

Ruan Qian hesitated, wanting to say something, but seeing Zhou Haiming’s darkening expression, she closed her mouth. She had always been close to him. She wasn’t a bad person at heart, but she had followed him down a path of petty crime. Perhaps this was what they called “following one’s husband.”

The topic of guardians was taboo for all the children in the Low-Rent District. Zhou Haiming’s face was cold. “What’s there to ask? Lu Li, why are you asking about this?”

“I just wanted to see if I could find them.” This was a lie. He was asking about their guardians to complete the task assigned by Chu Xiaodong, and also to potentially benefit everyone in the Low-Rent District. Having lived two lives, he knew better than to promise anything concrete. It wasn’t about morality; it was about human nature.

His reason sounded legitimate, something that the bold and daring Lu Li would do. Zhou Haiming’s expression softened slightly. “Go ahead and ask. But I don’t remember much.”

“Do you remember your guardians’ names?”

Only Ruan Qian timidly raised her hand. “Brother Lu, I remember. I saw the guardianship agreement when I was little. The first name on the long list was An Gulai.”

An Gulai? He had never heard of that name. Lu Li stroked his chin.

“Do you remember anything else?”

“No.”

“How are you guys doing these days? Do you have any source of income?” Lu Li suddenly realized that this sounded like something Chu Jingyi would ask. He wondered how Silly Goose was spending her seven-day holiday. Was she traveling with her parents? Hmm… He should remind her not to take any planes next time.

The three of them looked away awkwardly, their remaining pride preventing them from answering the question. Shuming, who had long abandoned his pride, answered for them. “They’re not doing well. They’re living off the sixty yuan monthly subsidy.”

“Sixty yuan… How do they even eat?”

“Once you’re on drugs, you don’t feel hungry anymore.” Shuming’s voice was flat, almost cruel.

Lu Li was silent for a long moment before taking out the five hundred yuan he had left.

“Lu Li… what are you doing?” Zhou Haiming’s eyes widened. “Are… are you giving us money?”

Shuming grabbed his hand. “Brother, you’re still a student. You need money for school. They’re already lost causes. Giving them money will only benefit the drug dealers.”

Zhou Haiming slumped, his voice filled with self-loathing. “Yeah, Ming Zi’s right. What’s the point of giving us money? Lu Li, Brother Lu, is this the first time I’ve called you Brother Lu?”

Lu Li raised an eyebrow. “I’m giving you money, just take it. Why all the fuss? If you use it to buy drugs, consider it me feeding a stray dog.” Lu Li was thin, but standing in front of the tall and muscular Zhou Haiming, his aura was overwhelming.

“I can’t guarantee you’ll have a full meal every day.” He handed the five hundred yuan to Ruan Qian. “But if you have even a shred of fighting spirit left, go spend six months in rehab.”

Ruan Qian, easily moved to tears, sniffed. “Brother Lu, thank you. We were wrong before…”

Back in elementary and middle school, Zhou Haiming, Chen Shiwei, and Ruan Qian had never gotten along with Lu Li and Zou Yameng. They weren’t friends. But to Lu Li, these pitiful souls were connected to him by a shared experience. They were all orphans, family in a way.

“Save the sentimental talk.” Lu Li shook his head and turned to leave with Shuming.

Zhou Haiming suddenly called out, “Brother Lu, if there’s anything you need, I, Zhou Haiming, will risk my life for you!”

Lu Li paused, a silent smile touching his lips. How similar these orphans were. People starved for love, despite their attempts to appear detached and uncaring, would pour their hearts out in return for even the slightest bit of kindness. It was both tragic and pitiful. Most of them would never escape this curse.

As Lu Li and Shuming walked back, he felt the distance between them shrink. The awkwardness and sense of estrangement had vanished.

“Brother Lu, you haven’t changed at all.”

“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”

“I don’t know. You just seem different from us, like someone from a fairy tale.”

“You mean childish?”

“No. I’m not well-read, I don’t have the words to describe it. Remember that story we learned in school, about Kuafu chasing the sun? I think you’re like Kuafu. I admire you.”

Idealist. The word popped into Lu Li’s mind. He had always considered himself a realist, a pragmatist. Ideals were always associated with the sky, with being detached from reality. It was a word as dazzling as fireworks, as fleeting as bubbles. Was this a compliment or an insult?

When they reached the intersection, Shuming stopped. “Brother, I’ll stop here. I still have work to do.”

“Thank you for everything.”

But Shuming didn’t move, rooted to the spot.

“Ming Zi, is there anything I can help you with?” Lu Li noticed Shuming’s clenched fists.

“Brother Lu, will you promise me something?” He took a deep breath.

“What is it?”

“Go to college, and make our Low-Rent District proud. Will you?” Shuming’s eyes were red. “I don’t want us to be looked down upon forever! I want people to know that even orphans from the Low-Rent District can become successful! See the world for us, Brother Lu! See the things we’ll never get to see! Will you?”

 v2c2: The Seagull’s Destination

By the time Zou Yameng limped out of the bathroom, the ending theme of “You From The Sun” was playing on TV. Lu Li changed the channel and made space for his sister on the sofa.

“Sis, I need to talk to you about something.”

“Hmm?”

“A while back, I contacted the government about our situation. They were very receptive and said they wanted me to gather information about the current status of all the unaccompanied minors in our Low-Rent District. They also said they would try to resolve our issues as soon as possible.”

“Why would you bother contacting those fat cats?”

“They asked, and I just told them the truth.”

Zou Yameng picked up the remote and lowered the TV volume before looking at Lu Li with a strange expression. “The official you spoke to, was it your classmate’s parent? The parent of your class monitor?”

“Yes. So what they said is quite credible.”

Zou Yameng felt a pang of bitterness. “We’ve managed just fine on our own for so many years. Why do we need them to worry about us now?”

“We managed, but others didn’t. Remember that kid who lived next door, the one who always fought with me? I heard he was trafficked to Southeast Asia and had his kidney harvested. He was a year younger than me.”

The topic was a heavy one, and Zou Yameng sat up straighter.

“…Where were they all this time?”

“…”

Seeing that Lu Li didn’t answer, Zou Yameng leaned against his shoulder, staring blankly at the TV. “Just do what you have to do. My little brother is all grown up now, with his own career. It has nothing to do with me.” Lu Li chuckled and put his arm around her. “What career? It’s just a small task. Sis, you haven’t told me about the Six-Province Tournament yet. How did you injure your leg?”

“I pushed myself too hard against He Ping and couldn’t hold on during the finals. But every cloud has a silver lining. Even though I was the runner-up, I got a better deal than the champion.”

“Oh?”

“The champion only received an invitation from the provincial team. I got an invitation from the national team the night after the finals.”

Zou Yameng proudly opened her phone’s email app, showing Lu Li the official invitation from the Shenzhou Women’s Table Tennis National Team. They praised her performance in the Six-Province Tournament and invited her to join the second team in the Capital City after the New Year. They also specifically advised her to focus on recovery.

“Why only the second team?” Lu Li asked, pretending to be disappointed.

Zou Yameng laughed at his teasing. “Silly, I’m just a newcomer. It’s already amazing that I could skip the training camp and join the second team directly. It’s all thanks to Coach Dan’s connections. She never said anything, but I overheard her calling her old teammates that night, asking them to try their best to get me into the second team…”

“We should visit her and express our gratitude.” Coach Dan had always taken special care of his sister. She had played a crucial role in Zou Yameng’s journey in table tennis.

“Okay. I’ll listen to you~” She nuzzled against him like a cat.

Lu Li closed his eyes, feeling a sense of relief that everything was finally falling into place. His sister had secured a ticket to the world championships, he hadn’t rekindled his relationship with An Baili, and his game development was progressing well. If only life could always be this smooth sailing.

***

October 4th. Morning.

The morning mist hadn’t dispersed yet, the air heavy with moisture. The skyscrapers in the distance were shrouded in fog, their reflections shimmering in the damp air. In contrast to the quiet and spacious city center, the Low-Rent District was bustling with activity. People wearing worn-out, pilling beanies walked numbly towards the city. It was October 4th, 2017. The alcohol ban hadn’t been implemented yet, the plane to Sanya hadn’t crashed into the Pacific Ocean, the amendment to the Marriage Law was still being debated in Congress. Nothing had happened yet; there was still time to change things.

He was fully aware that his actions would have a profound impact on everyone in this Low-Rent District, including himself.

Deep within the Low-Rent District lay Chuanhai’s “urban village,” a densely packed area with narrow, dirty streets. Beside a small food cart selling rice noodle rolls was an open sewer, its stench mingling with the aroma of the food, creating an indescribable odor. Lu Li approached the cart and looked at the vendor’s youthful face. “One rice noodle roll, with two eggs, please.”

“Coming right up!” The vendor looked up, his eyes lighting up. “Brother Lu, what brings you here?”

That simple question, “What brings you here?” made Lu Li’s heart ache. Since he had transferred to Chuanhai No. 1 High School, he rarely came to the Low-Rent District. His old friends had become somewhat distant. People always encouraged striving for advancement, for climbing the ladder of success, but they often ignored the ordinary people left behind by the relentless march of time. Shuming was his friend, or at least he had been.

“Ming Zi, how much?”

Shuming waved his hand dismissively. “Brother, you don’t need to pay me. It’s on the house! Have a seat, have a seat.”

The “seat” was a small round table and a rickety red plastic stool. Lu Li sat down, not mentioning the payment again. He just watched quietly as Shuming busied himself, the small stall surprisingly busy. Shuming seemed to have fully embraced his role as a street vendor, bowing and scraping, thanking customers profusely. He had lost the spark he once had as a boy. He was the same age as Lu Li, but standing next to each other, Shuming appeared much older.

The rice noodle roll was delicious, but eating next to an open sewer was unsettling. Lu Li stood up and waited to the side. Shuming, who came to collect the dishes, looked at him hesitantly. “Brother, didn’t you like it?”

“It was delicious. I just wanted to talk to you about something. We can talk after you close up.” Shuming’s overly respectful attitude made Lu Li uncomfortable. He remembered how they used to steal bird nests together in elementary school. Shuming had gotten scared of being caught by the park warden and run away, leaving Lu Li stranded in a tree. For a whole month after that, Shuming had avoided eye contact, calling himself a traitor, someone who deserved to be publicly shamed.

“Brother Lu, you should sit down. You must be tired standing.”

Shuming had always been timid and cowardly, the kind of person who trembled when talking to strangers. The first time Lu Li met him, he was being bullied by his classmates. How different he was now. Time truly was a mysterious force.

Lu Li stood silently, watching as Shuming quickly got back to work, sweating profusely even in the cool autumn weather. Two hours later, after the last of the breakfast crowd had dispersed, Shuming began to pack up his stall. Suddenly, he smacked his forehead and looked at Lu Li apologetically. “Brother, I’m so sorry! I completely forgot! I’m so sorry!”

Apologizing too much wasn’t a good habit. It made you seem like an easy target.

“It’s fine, it’s fine. I had things to do as well. It’s no big deal.” Lu Li stepped forward to help Shuming pack the small tables and chairs into the cart. Shuming stopped him, flustered.

“Brother, please, let me do it.” From “you” to “Brother,” seemingly more respectful, but actually more distant.

It reminded Lu Li of a conversation between two seagulls, discussing the ultimate purpose of life. The question itself was an embodiment of nihilism, as was the answer. Perhaps the ultimate goal of life was simply “to get some chips at the pier.” Some people spent their entire lives searching for the answer, while others reached the endpoint of meaninglessness at a young age. Shuming was the latter.

After packing up his cart, Shuming wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked at Lu Li apologetically. “Brother Lu, what did you want to talk to me about?”

“I just wanted to ask about you and Wei Ge, how you guys are doing.” Lu Li was uncharacteristically awkward. “I haven’t been in touch with them much, and I don’t know how to find them…”

Shuming’s expression was calm, as if he wasn’t surprised that Lu Li had lost contact with them.

Unlike ten years ago, this time, Lu Li was the traitor among them.

V2 Chapter 1: The Bathroom is Full Today

The saying “July, the time of scorching heat” should be categorized as an environmental term. With the intensification of global warming, it wasn’t until October 3rd that the temperature in Chuanhai City finally started to drop. Lu Li had already switched to his autumn attire, forgoing the youthful trend of leaving jackets unzipped to look cool. Instead, he securely zipped up his nylon jacket; he was someone who preferred the cold to the heat. October 1st was Constitution Day, a seven-day national holiday. Instead of going to school, he was at the bus station, holding up a sign and waiting.

At three in the afternoon, Zou Yameng, supported by her teammates, stepped off the bus. Lu Li tossed his sign aside and rushed to greet her. “Sister!” Zou Yameng’s left leg was bandaged. Hearing his voice, she instinctively tried to hide her injured leg behind her, not wanting her brother to see it. If her teammates weren’t watching her closely, she would have already secretly removed the bandage.

Zhou Wen handed Zou Yameng over to Lu Li, not forgetting to tease him. “Take good care of your sister, little brother~”

“Sis, what happened to your left leg?”

It had only been half a month. How did she suddenly get injured? Hadn’t she just made a comeback against He Ping?

“Her leg injury acted up during the finals. It’s nothing serious, just needs some rest,” Coach Dan answered for Zou Yameng. Zou Yameng shot the coach a reproachful look; she didn’t want her brother to worry.

“Leg injury? How bad is it? What did the doctor say?” Lu Li clenched his fists, his forehead breaking out in a sweat.

“Relax, it’s just a minor issue.” Zou Yameng looped her arm around his neck, preventing him from worrying unnecessarily.

It wasn’t that Lu Li was overreacting. In his previous life, Zou Yameng had to retire from the national team because of her recurring leg injury. Out of everyone present, only Lu Li knew how serious it would become. When he was in college, he would often visit his sister’s place for meals. Whenever it rained, her knee and ankle would ache terribly, leaving her in agony. And that was when she was only in her early twenties!

“I just let you down, Silly Goose. I still lost in the finals.”

Coach Dan chimed in, “It’s not your fault, Yameng. If it weren’t for your leg, you would have won. Everyone could see who the true uncrowned champion was.”

Lu Li would have been proud if his sister had won, but he wasn’t disappointed that she lost. As long as she was by his side, that was enough. One had to be content to be happy. He smiled warmly as usual, supporting his sister. For once, he splurged on a taxi, bidding farewell to the group from the Chuanhai City Women’s Sports School.

“Does your leg hurt?” Lu Li had always thought that constantly asking “Does it hurt?” “Are you tired?” “Are you sore?” was pointless and annoying. But when it came to someone he cared about, these words tumbled out of his mouth involuntarily. Zou Yameng smiled brightly and squeezed his cheeks playfully. “Don’t be such a worrywart! I’m fine, really.”

Lu Li felt that since their trip to Lingyue, Sister Yameng had become more physically affectionate with him. In the past, she would always be mindful of the boundaries between men and women, rarely initiating physical contact. Now, even in the back seat of the taxi, she sat close to him, leaving a large gap on her right side.

When they arrived home, Zou Yameng dropped her bag and stretched with a sigh of relief. “Finally home! I’m exhausted! It’s so good to be back!”

“There’s no place like home, even if it’s a dog house.”

“I’m going to take a shower. You can watch TV.”

“Okay.”

Lu Li thought for a moment before settling down in front of the boxy television. “Sis, can you manage the shower on your own?”

“Do you want to wash me? What kind of question is that?”

“Just shout if you need anything. I’ll be right outside.”

He turned on the TV, which was playing the popular drama “You From The Sun.” It was a rather boring time-travel story about a cheerful young man who traveled back to the Three Kingdoms period and became a general, guarding the borders of the Wu kingdom for Sun Quan. Lu Li was watching the scene where the protagonist encountered his arch-rival, Cao Ang, when he suddenly heard a cry from the bathroom. He rushed over immediately.

“Sis, what’s wrong?”

“Ouch… N-nothing! Don’t come in!”

He retracted his hand from the doorknob and asked anxiously, “Did you fall? Cover yourself with a towel, and I’ll come in and help you.”

“No!” Her response was surprisingly fierce.

Then he heard rustling sounds, as if she was struggling to get up.

“Sis, can you get up?”

“…No… My foot slipped… You… you… come in and help me.”

Lu Li took a deep breath and slowly pushed open the bathroom door. The room was filled with steam, like a scene from a celestial bathhouse. Zou Yameng was half-lying on the floor, wrapped in a towel, her face flushed. “Could you stare any harder?!” she exclaimed.

Lu Li coughed awkwardly and stepped forward, taking her hand and helping her sit on a small stool. Zou Yameng avoided his gaze, her back to him. The lines of her back were beautiful, full of sensual curves, every line worth savoring, her skin flawless. From behind, he could glimpse the curve of her breasts, round and alluring, peeking out from beneath the towel.

“Get out!”

Lu Li ignored her, squatting behind her and picking up the bath sponge.

Zou Yameng stiffened. “W-what are you doing?”

“Helping you wash up.” Lu Li glanced at her left leg. “You liar. Your leg is as stiff as a board, and you told me you were fine?”

“We’re too old for this… You… you can’t bathe me.”

“It’s only natural to take care of a patient.”

He gently scrubbed her back. When his hand first touched her, Zou Yameng tensed up. But seeing that he was genuinely trying to help her, without any ulterior motives, she gradually relaxed. This wasn’t like the drunken incident last night. Zou Yameng wasn’t that bold. Maybe Lu Li would be bold enough, but he wouldn’t do that.

Sister Yameng wasn’t skinny. Her flesh was soft and yielding, his hand sinking slightly into her smooth skin, like caressing fine silk. If he had to describe the sensation with one word, he would use “supple.” If he had to use an image, he would use “milk.” Perhaps it was the steam, perhaps it was his own inner turmoil, but her skin was flushed a lovely pink, especially her shoulders, which looked like ripe peaches, tempting him to take a bite.

“Did you wash your hair?” Lu Li untied her ponytail and gently combed through her damp hair with his fingers.

Zou Yameng, at this moment, had none of her usual authority. She was as docile as a lamb. “…No…”

“Tilt your head down a bit, and I’ll wash it for you.”

“Little Pear(Li Zi)…”

“Hmm?”

“When was the last time we showered together?”

“…”

Lu Li thought for a moment, applying shampoo to her hair. “Elementary school, I think. It’s been a while.” Yes, when they were in elementary school, they were inseparable, even insisting on going to the bathroom together, which had caused quite a stir. Other little boys who accidentally wandered into the girls’ bathroom would be mortified, but not Lu Li. He had clung to his sister, even imitating her squatting posture, much to Zou Yameng’s annoyance. Perhaps that was when he developed his thick skin.

Zou Yameng also remembered their childhood antics and chuckled.

Lu Li’s hand reached forward, inches away from her breasts. Zou Yameng’s laughter died in her throat, her body stiffening. Thankfully, she heard him say, “Sis, you can wash the front yourself.”

“Okay.” Her voice held a mixture of relief, confusion, and a hint of disappointment only she could discern.

Lu Li dried her hair, glancing at her left leg with concern before leaving the bathroom.