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

Chapter 14: Are You There?

After shaking off the ever-persistent An Baili, as usual, Lu Li unconsciously found himself walking towards Chuanhai Women’s Sports High School. As he stood there, lost in thought, it suddenly dawned on him that his sister had already left for the Six-Province Tournament and was probably already in Lingyue City.

He chuckled wryly and patted his head. He was like a chick longing for its mother, his heart yearning for Zou Yameng. Was this what psychology referred to as an Oedipus complex? Or perhaps, a “sister complex” was more accurate?

After politely declining the invitations of several university students who seemed intent on crushing him with their car (a metaphor, of course), Lu Li boarded the bus. He paid the fare, two yuan, and took a seat at the very back.

He enjoyed sitting at the back. It gave him a vantage point to observe the entire bus while simultaneously minimizing his presence. Unfortunately, as he grew older, his physique had weakened, and bus rides became increasingly unbearable. The smell of leather and engine oil never failed to make him nauseous.

“Buzz, buzz~” His phone vibrated suddenly. Lu Li unlocked the screen and saw a message from a contact with a pony profile picture.

[Sunshine Rainbow Little Pony: Are you there?]

[Sunshine Rainbow Little Pony: Hellooo, are you there?]

A smile crept onto his face as he changed “Sunshine Rainbow Little Pony” to “Sister Yameng.”

[Lu Li: Nope, not here.]

Sister Yameng sent a pouting emoji, followed by a large fist.

[Sister Yameng: I’ve been messaging you all day. Why aren’t you answering?]

The familiar tone of a concerned girlfriend caught him off guard. He quickly scrolled through their chat history and saw a string of messages sent throughout the day: “Are you there?”, “The bus ride is so boring,” “I’m hungry.”

He couldn’t help but chuckle. The online Sister Yameng was much livelier than her real-life counterpart. Perhaps it was because she didn’t have the weight of the world on her shoulders in the virtual realm.

[Lu Li: I can’t use my phone at school. I’ll reply as soon as I’m dismissed.]

[Sister Yameng: Fine, I forgive you.]

She sent a meme of a man wearing a green hat, the caption reading, “Just pretend he’s out honing his skills.”

[Lu Li: Where do you get these weird memes?]

[Sister Yameng: Xiaowen and the others sent them to me.]

[Sister Yameng: I’ve arrived in Lingyue City~ Look at what I’m having for dinner.]

Zou Yameng sent a picture of three or four girls gathered around a table, enjoying Korean barbecue. She added a caption: “The school’s treating us, haha!”

Lu Li thought for a moment before typing his reply.

[Lu Li: Looks delicious.]

As if. He wasn’t even remotely hungry. He just wanted to see his sister happy. And what girl didn’t love good food?

Sister Yameng didn’t reply for a while. Just as Lu Li assumed she was busy, her message popped up.

[Sister Yameng: I wish you were here to eat with me, Pear. It’s sooo good! We should definitely have Korean barbecue together sometime!]

Lu Li didn’t even realize the warmth that emanated from him as he sat at the back of the bus, grinning at the picture of Zou Yameng. The feeling of being cared for and missed was incredibly comforting. He was like a kite soaring through the sky, knowing that he could always retreat to the warmth of the harbor by following the string.

[Lu Li: Definitely!]

Zou Yameng responded with a string of drooling emojis, oddly reminiscent of Chu Jingyi’s goofy expressions.

[Sister Yameng: Are you home yet? Have you eaten? Send me a picture of your dinner. No instant noodles!]

She was in full-blown caretaker mode again. Lu Li snapped a picture of the bus interior.

[Lu Li: Still on the bus. Not home yet.]

[Sister Yameng: Send me a picture of you.]

[Lu Li: Why?]

[Sister Yameng: I want to see my dear little brother.]

[Lu Li: So cheesy. Eww, no way.]

She replied with an enraged minion emoji.

[Sister Yameng: Are you sending it or not?]

Lu Li chuckled at his phone, about to reply when he heard the bus driver announce, “Last stop, everyone!”

“Huh?” Lu Li stared out the window in disbelief. How could he, a grown man, fall asleep and miss his stop?

He disembarked awkwardly and began walking back. Thankfully, the low-rent district wasn’t too far from the last stop. After a thirty-minute walk, he finally reached home.

[Sister Yameng: Why aren’t you replying?]

[Sister Yameng: Are you there? (poke)]

[Sister Yameng: Hellooo? #cryingface]

After preparing a bowl of instant noodles, Lu Li finally checked his phone and burst into laughter upon seeing the barrage of messages from his sister. An Baili used to do the same thing in his past life. If they were apart for even a day or two, she’d bombard him with messages and call him constantly to check in.

[Lu Li: I’m home. I fell asleep and missed my stop. I was too engrossed in our conversation.]

[Sister Yameng: Hehe, go eat your dinner and get some rest. I’ll let you be.]

[Lu Li: Okay.]

Meanwhile, back at the hotel in Lingyue City, Zou Yameng lay on the double bed, giggling at her phone. Despite saying she wouldn’t bother him, she kept typing and deleting messages.

Her roommate, Zhou Wen, was getting annoyed by the constant tapping sounds. “Yameng, who are you chatting with? You seem awfully happy.”

“Do I?”

“Don’t you ‘do I’ me. Did you win the lottery or something? You looked absolutely miserable on the bus.”

Zou Yameng blushed slightly. “Just checking in with my little brother.”

“What kind of little brother? A boyfriend disguised as a brother, perhaps?”

Zou Yameng threw a pillow at her. “You’re so nosy!”

The two girls playfully wrestled for a bit before collapsing onto their beds, exhausted. The long bus ride had taken its toll.

Zou Yameng lay there, unconsciously reaching for her phone again. She stared at her brother’s profile picture, a pear, her heart feeling a little empty. She didn’t want to end their conversation. She wanted to keep chatting, about anything and everything, as long as she could feel his presence, his thoughts directed at her.

Zhou Wen stealthily peered at her phone screen and teased, “It’s definitely a boyfriend disguised as a brother. Look at that nickname~”

Zou Yameng quickly covered her friend’s mouth, her face crimson. “Don’t you dare!”

“But it’s true!”

“I’ll sew your mouth shut!”

“Lalalala~”

*

By the time Lu Li finished his homework, the moon had already risen high in the sky. He was a night owl, his mind most active in the late hours.

People often said that daytime belonged to logic, while nighttime belonged to emotions. At night, people were more sentimental and prone to negativity. That was why one should never make decisions at night, especially online purchases after midnight. This was a lesson Lu Li had learned the hard way.

He was feeling rather emotional at the moment, a surge of creative energy coursing through him. If only he had a computer at hand.

With that thought, he opened the online shopping app and browsed through computers. The cheapest one that met his requirements was over seven thousand yuan, excluding the monitor.

Too expensive. Lu Li had a little over ten thousand yuan in savings, money he had earned from part-time jobs, supplemented by Sister Yameng. This was their living expenses, and he couldn’t touch it.

He wished a rich and generous sugar momma would come along and spoil him. As soon as this whimsical thought crossed his mind, he was reminded of the clueless Chu Jingyi. She fit the bill perfectly: beautiful, tall, fair-skinned, and incredibly wealthy. Not only did she have money, but her family also had power. Add to that her naive and kind personality, and she was the perfect target.

Snap out of it, Lu Li!

He lightly slapped his cheeks. That was close. He couldn’t afford to be swayed by such thoughts. He wasn’t reborn just to be someone’s kept man.

He glanced at the time. It was still early for him, but Sister Yameng was probably already asleep.

He opened their chat window and sent her a goodnight message.

To his surprise, she replied instantly.

[Sister Yameng: Good night #heart]

Usually, when people exchanged goodnight messages, one of them wasn’t actually asleep, or perhaps neither of them was. Lu Li hesitated, unsure if he should continue chatting with his sister or let her rest. In the end, he turned off his phone, took out a pen and paper, and began revising the second chapter of his game’s story.

Unbeknownst to him, in the distant city of Lingyue, Zou Yameng stared at their chat window, her unsent message slowly disappearing as she deleted it character by character.

[Don’t want to sleep yet~]

After deleting the message, she finally turned off her phone, justifying it to herself: Pear has class tomorrow. I can’t disturb him; I have to prepare for the warm-up match…

But she couldn’t help but miss him.

The night was quiet, the moon outside her window a silent observer. Distance separated them, but the moon illuminated them both. Lost in her thoughts, Zou Yameng finally drifted off to sleep.

Chapter 13: A Date?

“What… is your relationship?”

As soon as the question left Chu Jingyi’s lips, Lu Li and An Baili answered almost simultaneously.

“We’re not involved.”

“Boyfriend and girlfriend.”

Lu Li shot An Baili a murderous look. Faced with Chu Jingyi’s suspicious gaze, he decided to reveal a partial truth. “She’s my ex-girlfriend.” Ex-wife counted as ex-girlfriend, right?

“So, you two knew each other all along.” Chu Jingyi suddenly connected the dots. “I knew there was something strange going on.”

Lu Li felt a bead of sweat trickle down his temple. Was it that obvious? Even she could tell? Perhaps he was overthinking things. Was it because he was still hung up on An Baili? No, impossible. He would rather jump off a building than harbor even the slightest bit of affection for her!

Progressing from “not involved” to “ex-girlfriend” was still progress. An Baili silently cheered for herself. At the same time, she observed Chu Jingyi’s expression. Seeing the class monitor’s sullen demeanor, An Baili’s heart skipped a beat. “Jingyi, are you upset?” she asked cautiously.

“Of course, I’m upset.” Chu Jingyi frowned. “This is important! How could you two keep it from me, your friend? Do you think I’m that unreasonable?”

So that was what she was angry about? Both An Baili and Lu Li felt a wave of relief wash over them.

Chu Jingyi was known for her impartiality at school – though Lu Li wholeheartedly disagreed. She seemed like the type to break up couples and gossip behind their backs. But was that really who she was? Of course not.

From Chu Jingyi’s perspective, Lu Li and An Baili had kept their past relationship a secret because they were worried about her judgment. This feeling of being misunderstood by her friends was incredibly hurtful.

“Even though dating in high school isn’t ideal, I’m not completely unreasonable.” Her voice grew quieter. “If you’re friends, I can turn a blind eye.”

Where are your principles, class monitor? Lu Li sighed internally. Chu Jingyi had always been the center of attention, growing up surrounded by admirers. To put it bluntly, she had an overinflated ego, thinking that everything revolved around her, even a tree falling a thousand miles away.

He interrupted her self-righteous justification. “Class monitor, An Baili and I are over. I swear.”

“Is that true?” This time, her question was directed at An Baili.

“No, it’s not.” An Baili stood her ground. “We were worried that you’d discriminate against us, think we’re bad students, so we didn’t dare to tell you… We’re sorry.”

You’re really selling it, An Baili. You’ve honed your acting skills after your rebirth.

Lu Li cursed her silently, but he couldn’t be bothered to explain to the clueless class monitor. He believed actions spoke louder than words.

He pulled out his hard drive and said goodbye to Mr. Chen, but the teacher stopped him. “Your Majesty…a word of advice. It’s a crime to do *that* with underage girls. Don’t stray down the wrong path.”

Lu Li couldn’t help but run a hand through his thinning hair. “Don’t you have anything better to do?”

“I’m just looking out for you. I wouldn’t want to see you end up behind bars.”

“Get a life.”

Was he really that kind of person? Lu Li frowned, wondering if his persona had been completely misinterpreted. He wasn’t a scumbag! He prided himself on being a straight shooter. Yet, everyone around him seemed to harbor these strange misconceptions about him.

He quickened his pace, deliberately putting distance between himself and the two girls trailing behind him like ducklings.

An Baili and Chu Jingyi walked hand in hand, whispering amongst themselves. Their conversation revolved mostly around relationships, leaving the naive Chu Jingyi feeling like her head was about to burst with steam, like a kettle on the verge of boiling over.

“Is Lu Li… really that perverted?” Chu Jingyi asked hesitantly.

“Yep,” An Baili replied, relishing the opportunity to stir up trouble. “He’s practically starving for it. You better stay far away from him. Jingyi, you don’t… like Lu Li, do you?”

“No!” she immediately retorted. “No way. Lu Li is my good friend. I don’t have those kinds of feelings for him. Besides, we’re still in high school. Isn’t it too early to be thinking about dating?” Her words stumbled out, betraying the turmoil An Baili’s words had caused.

Good. An Baili nodded in satisfaction, patting the back of Chu Jingyi’s hand as if comforting a puppy. “Jingyi, you have to be careful with boys. They like to say one thing and do another. Deep down, all they think about is *that*.”

Is… Is that true? Chu Jingyi felt dizzy.

She snuck a glance at the boy walking ahead of them, his back turned. He looked so clean-cut, almost ethereal. Yet, she couldn’t shake off the feeling that she wasn’t looking at a classmate, but at a dangerous beast.

*

Back in the classroom, Chu Jingyi was distracted, An Baili’s words echoing in her mind like a curse. She was even afraid to approach Lu Li, terrified that he might suddenly pounce on her like a predator.

Lu Li felt that explaining himself to the class monitor would be a lost cause. He would be fighting a losing battle. So, he kept a straight face, acting like everyone owed him a fortune. Even the teacher asked if he was feeling unwell.

Finally, Chu Jingyi seemed to have calmed down a little. She cautiously approached Lu Li. “Lu Li, are you free this weekend?”

Is she asking me out on a date? Both Lu Li and An Baili thought simultaneously.

As if sensing An Baili’s misunderstanding, Chu Jingyi quickly explained, “It’s nothing like that. My mom is back from vacation, and she heard that I made a new friend. She’d like to meet you. Of course, Baili, you should come too.”

“Your mom?” An Baili was taken aback. Is this what it’s like to be rich and spoiled? Needing parental approval to hang out with a friend? No wonder the class monitor had so few friends. It wasn’t just her, it was her family too.

Lu Li shared a similar sentiment. He felt that Chu Jingyi’s parents were being overly protective.

An Baili was timid by nature and hated meeting strangers. The thought of meeting Chu Jingyi’s parents made her shrink back like a frightened rabbit. When she learned that Chu Jingyi’s father would be home as well, she shook her head vehemently.

“Lu Li, will you come?” Chu Jingyi pleaded, her eyes fixed on him. The naive girl thought, My friends are important to me, and so are my parents. It should be a happy occasion for everyone to meet.

Lu Li hesitated, unable to utter a word. He was befriending Chu Jingyi, not her parents. Couldn’t she understand? It was one thing if her parents were ordinary people, but with their social standing… who wouldn’t feel pressured to meet them?

He had already done his research. Chu Jingyi’s father, Chu Xiaodong, was the equivalent of the city manager of Chuanhai, second only to the mayor in position but wielding far more power. More importantly, his online biography clearly stated that he had been transferred from the central government two years ago to a prosperous city like Chuanhai. What did that imply?

To make matters worse, he couldn’t find any information online about Chu Xiaodong’s family background.

Looking at Chu Jingyi, her expectant gaze resembling that of a lost puppy, Lu Li felt like he wasn’t looking at a classmate, but at a golden ticket to success.

“Lu Li, will you come?” the clueless girl asked again.

Can I even say no? he thought to himself, but the word that escaped his lips was a resigned, “Yes.”

A bright smile spread across Chu Jingyi’s face, her eyes crinkling at the corners. She looked incredibly sweet.

Chapter 12: What’s Your Relationship?

As life gradually settled into a routine, it dawned upon me that the world hadn’t actually stopped spinning for me. Humans tend to be narcissistic, not only exaggerating their own importance but also attributing success to themselves and failure to external factors. The results of the challenging mock exam were finally released on the third day. Many students sighed and lamented, blaming the exam setters for their lack of empathy, yet they conveniently overlooked Lu Li’s top score.

It’s better this way, less attention on me, Lu Li consoled himself. Their attitudes towards him were genuine. While they admired his academic achievements, their backgrounds prevented them from befriending an orphan who could barely afford to eat.

A steed of a thousand li* is common, but a discerning judge is rare, he thought to himself, not without a hint of narcissism.

(T/N): Many talented individuals

But there was one discerning judge: Chu Jingyi. After retrieving a copy of the results from the office, the class monitor excitedly grabbed Lu Li’s shoulders, congratulating him on his transformation. In her eyes, Lu Li going from his usual lackadaisical self to achieving first place was nothing short of a metamorphosis. Although her words stung a little, Lu Li still smiled and nodded.

The class elections were also held over the past two days, and unsurprisingly, Chu Jingyi was elected as class monitor.

During her speech, she was dignified, articulate, and sincere, a stark contrast to her usual self. Lu Li even wondered if she had a split personality, switching to her “serious mode” with a hidden button on her chest – or perhaps “cyber girl” was a more fitting description.

Yeah, the “class monitor” and “cyber girl” personas went surprisingly well together. She’d fit right into a holographic projection, appearing with the flick of a switch and announcing, “Greetings, I am Artificial Intelligence Unit Chu Jingyi, at your service.”

Lost in his thoughts, Lu Li suddenly felt An Baili playfully pinching his left earlobe.

“What are you doing?” He frowned, feigning annoyance. As expected, An Baili withdrew her hand and retreated.

“I’ve been having stomachaches at night. Can you accompany me to the hospital this weekend… I’m scared to go alone…”

Lu Li gave her an amused smile. You’re scared? You were ready to die together with me, but you’re afraid of a little hospital visit? He didn’t bother responding. Silence was a hundred times better than outright rejection in this situation. In the end, An Baili was just clinging to his care. With enough consistent coldness, he could make her give up.

He wasn’t fond of using the silent treatment, as it fundamentally damaged relationships. Interacting with loved ones was an exchange of emotions. If one party remained indifferent, it was no different from having a relationship with a fictional character. At least those characters could still utter heartwarming lines under the direction of their creators.

“I was thinking of going to the tech mall this weekend. Want to come along?”

To the hospital one minute, to the tech mall the next. You sure are versatile.

Seeing Lu Li remain stubbornly silent, his gaze fixed elsewhere, An Baili whispered, “If you spend the weekend with me, I’ll spend the night with you. I’m still a virgin, you know, and quite young…”

Lu Li couldn’t bear to listen any longer. He felt like An Baili was degrading herself.

He abruptly stood up and walked out of the classroom, bumping into the approaching class monitor.

Chu Jingyi was carrying a stack of test papers, her slender, fair arms a stark contrast to the yellowed paper. It was evident that she was struggling with the weight. In this situation, Lu Li should have offered to help. It was a perfect opportunity to get closer to the innocent girl.

But he didn’t. He didn’t want to escape An Baili’s vortex only to get caught in another uncontrollable entanglement. So, he simply feigned ignorance, mumbled a greeting, and continued walking towards the door.

The class monitor, with her simple mind, couldn’t comprehend Lu Li’s complex thoughts. She just wondered if he was skipping class again.

“Lu Li, where are you going? Class is about to start. We have a pop quiz next period.”

“I’m going to the computer lab.”

“Hey, you can’t skip class.”

“Thanks, class monitor!” Lu Li waved goodbye with a smile. He knew that deep down, Chu Jingyi was a soft touch, just like him. Even if she didn’t verbally condone his truancy, she would still turn a blind eye when it came to attendance. After all, hadn’t he gotten away with it last year? It was all about knowing how to handle people.

Being “handled” wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. It gave others the illusion of control. At least in Lu Li’s eyes, the class monitor was partially controllable, while An Baili was not. That was why he preferred being around Chu Jingyi.

Upon arriving at the computer lab, he was greeted by blessed silence, save for the sound of a prematurely balding programmer typing away. Noticing Lu Li’s arrival, Mr. Chen scoffed, “His Majesty, gracing us with his presence again? Skipping class, I presume?”

Although his teacher, Mr. Chen wasn’t that much older. He had just graduated from university, and his relationship with Lu Li was more akin to that of bickering friends. Mr. Chen was socially awkward, timid during computer class but surprisingly aggressive in private. What baffled Lu Li was how such a man could have a girlfriend.

Lu Li pulled up a chair and sat beside Mr. Chen. “What are you working on, Mr. Chen? Another auto-reply program for your girlfriend? She didn’t dump you last time?”

Mr. Chen flushed, suddenly resembling Kong Yiji from Lu Xun’s stories. Lu Li thought he’d look quite fitting in a faded indigo robe.

“This is serious business. I’m working on a project. If it goes well, I might get hired full-time.” Mr. Chen grumbled. “Then I won’t have to teach you lot anymore. How do you even get away with skipping class all the time, Your Majesty? Aren’t you afraid of getting expelled?”

“His Majesty” was just Mr. Chen’s sarcastic nickname for Lu Li, alluding to his seemingly untouchable status in school. Despite constantly skipping class and scaling the school walls, he remained unscathed.

Of course, Lu Li wouldn’t be expelled. He had his dear class monitor to cover for him. Using the right people in the right places – that was what made him clever. Human society was like a spider web, with each node made up of people. It was impossible to achieve anything without navigating these human connections. This was something that Mr. Chen, with his social anxiety, struggled with immensely.

“You focus on your work. I’m going to use that computer. Can you grant me access?” Lu Li picked up his external hard drive from Mr. Chen’s desk drawer.

Speaking of which, this hard drive was one of Lu Li’s few valuable possessions – at least more valuable than his 100 yuan outfits. It contained a backup of his game’s demo version, along with some other things that any hot-blooded young man might possess. Lu Li had decided that if he were ever to die suddenly, he would crawl back home and format the hard drive before breathing his last. Only then could he rest in peace.

He had completed the game’s framework last year, using a free engine. As a solo developer, the optimization was poor, and the asset utilization was low. His main goals for this year were to flesh out the story and improve the underlying code. Of course, he planned to freeload off Mr. Chen for the latter.

Lu Li rewrote the first chapter of the story. After repeated revisions and testing, the demo version was finally starting to look decent, except for the free assets that clashed with the game’s style.

Thinking about the art style reminded him of Wen Hupo. He had asked around at school, but there was no one by that name, or rather, no Shirley Amber. Perhaps she was still overseas, receiving an elite education. He still couldn’t comprehend what had caused their falling out in his past life. He vaguely remembered commenting on her recent use of color, and the usually quiet Wen Hupo had suddenly erupted, unleashing a torrent of insults before packing her bags and leaving the next day.

Had he done something wrong?

Lost in thought, Lu Li was startled by two small heads poking through the doorway like curious kittens, their eyes darting around. Chu Jingyi and An Baili’s suspicious lurking finally caught Mr. Chen’s attention. He looked up at Lu Li, who was sitting at the back. “Your Majesty, you have visitors!”

Only then did Lu Li notice the two girls looking at him with a mix of apprehension and hope. He walked over with a wry smile. “Come in, it’s alright. Mr. Chen doesn’t bite.” He directed his words at Chu Jingyi, pretending that An Baili didn’t exist.

Chu Jingyi, still holding An Baili’s hand, entered the lab and politely greeted Mr. Chen.

The trio reached the back of the lab where Lu Li’s computer screen displayed the game interface. Chu Jingyi excitedly moved the mouse. “Can I try it?” She looked like a child who had just received a new toy, eager to play but unsure how to start.

Looking at Chu Jingyi’s profile, Lu Li couldn’t help but find the class monitor’s naiveté endearing.

While he observed Chu Jingyi, An Baili was observing him. Just as he admired the scenery, he too was part of someone else’s landscape. However, An Baili’s heart was far from at ease. She felt a pang of jealousy. She hated it when Lu Li looked at others with such tenderness. The thought of it would keep her up at night, a sharp pain stabbing at her heart.

She was deeply insecure, perhaps due to her low self-esteem or her timidity. There was no such thing as “yandere” in the real world, only antisocial personality disorder. People would steer clear of such individuals in real life. However, when an extremely timid person finally snapped, that was when their “illness” manifested.

And An Baili was ill.

Subconsciously, she sought her cure. Her hand reached out for Lu Li’s, desperate to hold onto him, to act coquettishly like she used to, demanding his attention. However, her hand froze midway, stopped by Lu Li’s icy glare. She withdrew it, like a child caught misbehaving.

Don’t be like this… Please…

“It’s just a demo version. There are still many rough edges,” Lu Li explained to the class monitor. “Are you classes over?”

It should be “your” classes, not “you” classes… An Baili corrected him internally. She knew Lu Li was doing this on purpose. They were once husband and wife, after all. His deliberate coldness only convinced her further that he still cared.

“Yeah, we came here as soon as class ended. We have a free period next, so I brought Baili along to check it out.”

Chu Jingyi, please stop smiling, stop chatting so happily with my Lu Li… An Baili felt increasingly uncomfortable. The two of them looked so well-suited, laughing and talking. The boy was handsome and clean-cut, the girl beautiful and elegant. They were dazzling, their light so bright she could barely keep her eyes open. It was as if she were the outsider.

Driven by a sudden urge, An Baili desperately needed to reaffirm her place in Lu Li’s heart. With an air of reckless determination, she grabbed his hand. It was as warm as she remembered. Just holding his hand brought her a sense of comfort, like snuggling under a warm blanket on a winter day or being wrapped in a cozy duvet with the air conditioner on full blast during summer.

However, Lu Li’s reaction was startling. He abruptly pulled his hand away, his voice sharp. “What are you doing?”

An Baili’s eyes welled up, but she remained silent, standing there looking utterly heartbroken.

Chu Jingyi was stunned. “What’s wrong, Lu Li?”

Lu Li realized he had overreacted. An Baili’s sudden gesture didn’t warrant such a drastic response. His exaggerated reaction had even alerted Chu Jingyi.

Never treat others like fools, for it only makes a fool of yourself. Chu Jingyi was no fool. Her voice was sharp as she asked, “What… is your relationship?”

Chapter 11: Buying a Computer

“Lu Li, are you going to buy a computer?”

Lu Li’s hand trembled, almost dropping his pen. “What? Did you say sell a kidney? I’m not selling a kidney.”

Chu Jingyi was so angry she pinched the back of his neck, making Lu Li grimace in pain. Do all girls have a natural talent for pinching? Either the back of the neck or the soft flesh around the waist – it’s like they were born knowing how to inflict pain. No wonder Wing Chun Kung Fu flourished under their influence.

“I said buy a computer! Buy! A! Computer!” Chu Jingyi yelled into Lu Li’s ear.

“Alright, alright, I heard you.” Lu Li impatiently pushed her away. “For me, buying a computer is basically the same as selling a kidney. How could I possibly afford one? I’ll just have to make do with borrowing one from the computer lab.”

Hearing this, not only An Baili but even Lu Li’s nameless female deskmate couldn’t help but cover their mouths and chuckle.

“You don’t have to sell a kidney!” As others laughed, Chu Jingyi’s ears turned pink, making her look even more adorable. “I’ll give you one… Of course, it’s to help you with that game, nothing else.”

Give me one? Lu Li raised an eyebrow. A gentleman wouldn’t accept charity. He hadn’t done anything to deserve it, so what gave Chu Jingyi the right to offer him a computer?

His expression turned serious. “Class monitor, I may be poor, but I have my pride. There’s no need for your pity.”

Pity was always the privilege of the strong. When one person showed pity towards another, they were already placing themselves on a higher pedestal. Lu Li recalled a time in third grade when he received a poverty subsidy and had to stand in front of the entire school during morning exercises, giving a “heartfelt” speech. The stench of adult pity that permeated that experience had left a deep psychological scar.

He hated it when people treated him with sympathy or pity. He had two hands, two feet, and a healthy body. He could support himself. Why should he be looked down upon?

When anxious, Chu Jingyi resembled a deer, a sika deer to be precise, dashing about in a frenzy.

“I’m not pitying you. It’s just that… well…” Chu Jingyi looked pleadingly at An Baili, hoping she would speak up on her behalf.

An Baili would be thrilled if Chu Jingyi and Lu Li had a falling out. There was no way she would intervene. She simply looked back at Chu Jingyi with a dull expression, playing the part of the quiet, introverted girl from the countryside.

“That’s not what I meant.” Sweat beaded on Chu Jingyi’s forehead. “We’re friends, aren’t we? I just wanted to give you a gift…”

Friends… This word made Lu Li pause. Friends were a luxury he couldn’t afford, and Chu Jingyi’s offer of friendship seemed a bit too casual. He always felt that they were just ordinary classmates, far from being friends. However, he was adept at adapting to different situations.

“Is that so?” He feigned confusion, his previous anger vanishing like an illusion.

Chu Jingyi, unable to see through Lu Li’s act, quickly nodded upon seeing his confused expression. “It’s normal for friends to give gifts. That’s what my mom told me. Once you make friends, you should stay in touch and give small gifts. That’s how friendships last.”

That’s what your mom told you… Right. An Baili chuckled and asked curiously, “Jingyi, do you have many friends?”

Chu Jingyi’s face flushed even redder. She was embarrassed to admit that she had very few friends, if any at all. Every time she met someone new, the first month was always harmonious. However, once they learned about her family background, they would become distant and gradually cut off contact.

Within the circle of wealthy kids in Chuanhai City, Chu Jingyi’s status was obviously too high, or rather, her father’s position was too prominent. Everyone had their own circles, and forcing oneself into another’s only led to awkwardness for everyone involved. Therefore, she rarely talked about her family and even deliberately downplayed her background.

She wanted friends. Not the kind who flattered and put on a show, but genuine friends.

Lu Li gradually understood. Chu Jingyi was also a bit of a problem child. It seemed like she had serious issues with social interaction. No wonder she was so eager to give him a computer just days after they met. The gesture reeked of trying too hard.

“Sorry for the misunderstanding…” Chu Jingyi lowered her head, her pitiful appearance evoking sympathy.

Lu Li wasn’t actually angry. He had merely put on an act. “It’s okay. Thank you for offering me a gift. It’s just that it’s too expensive for me. We’re friends, of course, and friends can’t be bought with money, right?”

His voice was gentle, as calm as he appeared.

Chu Jingyi was touched but still a little uneasy. “But wouldn’t it be inappropriate for me to be your friend without doing anything in return?”

Lu Li couldn’t help but take a closer look at her. In his past life’s memories, Chu Jingyi was like Wang Xifeng, always acting high and mighty. However, as they got closer in this life, he realized that deep down, the class monitor was actually a kind soul. People were always complex and contradictory. If it weren’t for the inability to handle close relationships, who would want to be a cold and distant class monitor all day long?

“Then let me ask you for a favor, okay?” Lu Li smiled gently, captivating An Baili, who was watching from the sidelines. Back then, An Baili had fallen for this man’s smile, and that one smile had lasted them over twenty years.

“Ask me for a favor?” Chu Jingyi tilted her head in confusion.

“You know I often sneak off to the computer lab, right? I miss a lot of assignments the teachers give. Chu Jingyi, could you please help me write down the teachers’ assignments in the future?” The essence of social relationships was mutual indebtedness. The more you owed each other, the closer the relationship became.

He added, “This is really important to me. Please!”

Chu Jingyi’s eyes sparkled like a hero receiving a king’s command. She pumped her fist with excitement. “Okay, leave it to me!”

For a problem child like her, she had been showered with love from birth: her parents’ adoration, her classmates’ respect, and her teachers’ affection. The saying was true: love always flowed to those who didn’t lack it.

All she craved was to be needed, to be the one giving love, not just receiving it.

Lu Li noticed the dimness in An Baili’s eyes, a stark contrast to Chu Jingyi’s excitement. An Baili, on the other hand, had always yearned for love. Chu Jingyi’s joy only served as a reminder of painful memories. The girl from the countryside slumped over her desk, staring blankly into space.

Lu Li’s lips twitched as he suppressed the urge to speak. He had to admit, for a fleeting moment, he felt a pang of sympathy for An Baili.

The day of the first mock exam after the class reshuffle arrived.

Such exams were a piece of cake for Lu Li. Although he felt a bit rusty at first, as his muscle memory and knowledge returned, his speed increased dramatically. With time to spare, he observed An Baili and Chu Jingyi.

The former was biting on her pen, looking drowsy.

The latter sat upright, her pen flying across the paper.

These two ending up as deskmates was like the sun rising from the west, Lu Li thought to himself with a hint of malice.

As the day’s exams concluded, the sophomores were understandably exhausted. They gathered in small groups, discussing the answers. Lu Li abhorred this practice. Besides messing with their mental state, it served no purpose. Yet, ordinary people loved to engage in pointless post-mortems. Of course, Lu Li wasn’t just talking about exams.

Chuanhai No. 1 High School prohibited students from working part-time during the school year. Otherwise, Lu Li would have taken on at least two jobs. With nothing else to do after school, he ambled towards the computer lab. As for An Baili? She was being lectured in the teacher’s office for handing in a blank exam paper.

Chu Jingyi watched Lu Li’s retreating figure, hesitating to speak. However, her thoughts came too slowly, and Lu Li walked too fast. By the time she made up her mind, he was already out of sight. With a sigh, she walked to the school gate, took out her transportation card, and prepared to take the subway home.

Just then, the class monitor spotted her father’s inconspicuous car parked at the entrance. The license plate hadn’t been changed yet and still bore the white government plates. The parents who came to pick up their children obediently parked their cars far away. A few pot-bellied middle-aged men, cigarettes dangling from their lips, tried to approach the car but were driven back by the glare of Chu Jingyi’s father’s secretary.

Chu Jingyi greeted Secretary Long before turning to her father in the back seat with an annoyed expression. “Dad, why are you here to pick me up again? Didn’t we agree that I’d go home by myself?”

Her father leaned forward apologetically. “My bad, my bad. I finished work early today and thought I’d pick up my little princess on the way.”

Secretary Long, a man in his thirties, was like an uncle to Chu Jingyi. When she was little, she often caused a ruckus at her father’s workplace, and it was always Secretary Long who took care of her. Back then, she had innocently declared that Secretary Long was her real father, nearly scaring the young man, whose hairline hadn’t even started receding at that time, to his knees.

He chuckled and said, “Jingyi, Mr. Chu even pushed back several meetings today.”

“Don’t you start.” Chu Father laughed and opened the car door for his daughter. “Get in the car. Forgive your dad, just this once, okay?”

Only after Chu Jingyi got in did Secretary Long get into the driver’s seat and start the car.

As Chu Father and his daughter chatted about school life, they naturally touched upon the matter of Chu Jingyi wanting to give Lu Li a computer. Upon hearing his daughter’s account, Chu Father exchanged a surprised look with Secretary Long through the rearview mirror.

“Is that what Little Lu really said?” Chu Father asked with a chuckle.

“Yes. I know he was just trying to comfort me by asking me to help him with the assignments, but I’m still really happy.” Chu Jingyi had always been open with her parents and hid nothing from them. “Dad, I think Lu Li is amazing. He’s great at writing scripts and really caring. It must be wonderful to be his friend!”

Secretary Long’s eyes widened in amusement, trying his best to stifle a laugh. Chu Father, on the other hand, laughed freely. He stroked his chin and said, “Tell you what, you pick out a computer for Little Lu and tell him it’s from me.”

“Huh?” Chu Jingyi’s eyes widened in surprise.

Chapter 10: The Train of Youth

After taking a shower, Zou Yameng, wearing a camisole and hot pants, sat down next to Lu Li, her long, fair legs on full display. She smelled nice, a fresh scent of shower gel. She only used a certain brand of baby shower gel, firstly because it was cheap, and secondly because the ingredients in baby shower gel were less complex.

She also didn’t like using a hairdryer because she felt it damaged her hair.

Lu Li stared at the TV without looking away, not saying a word. Until Sister Yameng picked up her phone, glanced at it a few times, and then looked at him suspiciously, “You didn’t look at my phone, did you?”

Lu Li let out an “ah,” his gaze still fixed on the TV, pretending to be engrossed, “Phone, what phone? What’s wrong with your phone?”

Sister Yameng nodded in satisfaction, “Help me dry my hair.”

Lu Li quickly got up, grabbed a clean towel, and gently dried Sister Yameng’s wet hair. His touch was so gentle and comfortable that Zou Yameng leaned back on the cushion, her eyes half-closed.

The boy’s gaze couldn’t help but fall on the deep cleavage under Zou Yameng’s camisole. It was a bottomless ravine that had buried countless elite soldiers of his teenage kingdom in his dreams. The damp skin clung to the gray camisole, and Zou Yameng wasn’t wearing a bra. If Lu Li had to rank them, gray camisoles were first, followed by white ones. Any woman with a decent figure would exude a different kind of allure in a gray camisole.

Sister Yameng’s legs were also beautiful. Her thighs were plump, her calves toned, and there was no excess fat at the junction of her legs and buttocks, showing the results of her training. Such legs were often disparaged as “thick legs” by inexperienced youngsters, but with Lu Li’s experience, such legs were rare and exquisite.

Lu Li suddenly realized how lewd his thoughts were and quickly looked away, attributing these bold and forbidden thoughts to the hormones raging in his teenage body.

He wasn’t sure if it was his imagination, but Sister Yameng had been wearing less and less at home these days. Didn’t she used to wear long sleeves and pants?

“I’m going to participate in the Six Provinces Tournament next Monday, and I have to leave tomorrow. I won’t be back for at least a month.” Zou Yameng’s eyes were still closed, enjoying Lu Li’s service.

The Six Provinces Tournament?

Lu Li’s memories flooded back. This Six Provinces Tournament should be Sister Yameng’s most important competition in high school. Winning a place in the tournament was equivalent to getting a ticket to the national team. In his previous life, Sister Yameng unfortunately lost in the quarterfinals, didn’t even get third place, and finally entered the provincial team as a substitute through her coach’s connections.

He really hoped that his sister could win the championship, but he wasn’t God. He didn’t have a system, he couldn’t do magic, and he didn’t have superpowers. Someone as proud as his sister must have been filled with unwillingness when she entered the provincial team as a substitute.

“Go for it, Sister, I believe in you.”

“Mm.” Zou Yameng smiled sweetly. No matter how hard or tiring it was, her beloved brother was waiting for her, what else could she ask for? For her brother, she had to win the championship in this Six Provinces Tournament… well, at least get third place!

Lu Li put away the towel and started giving Sister Yameng a scalp massage. His attentiveness made Zou Yameng giggle.

“What are you doing? My neck is so itchy.”

“Don’t move, Sister, I’m giving you a massage.”

“You know how to do this?”

“Of course. Feels good, right?”

“You’re quite good at it.”

After laughing for a while, Zou Yameng suddenly became sad because she thought of her teammates. In less than a year, they would be parting ways. Even she didn’t know where her future lay, what about them? Life was long, would they ever have the chance to meet again?

Someone said that youth was like a train. Some people get on, some people get off. Some people, once they part, will never meet again.

But she still wanted to fool around with them, to listen to Zhou Wen tell dirty jokes, to practice with them, to discuss which cafeteria had the best food at the best price, which brand of sneakers had the best cushioning, who broke up with whom, and who was a scumbag.

She was afraid of losing things.

Not just losing things, but also losing important people.

If one day, she even lost her brother… She immediately dismissed this thought because she believed that Lu Li would never be lost, right?

“Li.”

“Hmm? Am I pressing too hard?”

“No. I wanted to ask, do you still have the contact information of your friends from elementary school?”

“No, my old account was stolen. I lost all their contact information.”

“I still remember you playing with girls every day back then. It’s good that you lost it, so you won’t be messing around with them.”

Lu Li was a little embarrassed, “Did I?”

“Of course you did! Back then, little girls would knock on the wrong door every day, knocking on my door, saying in their sweet little voices that they wanted to play with Lu Li.” Zou Yameng couldn’t help but smile. “You used to fight with boys every night and play with girls during the day. You were quite popular with both genders.”

Lu Li himself had almost forgotten about it. The memories of that time were too distant for him, who had lived two lives. The word “childhood” was like a utopia in everyone’s heart, belonging only to themselves, only to their dreams. When enjoying childhood, one wouldn’t cherish it, and when reminiscing about childhood, one had already missed it. But at least Lu Li’s own childhood was very happy, without regrets or worries.

“Playing with girls is not as fun as playing with Sister.”

“Hmph, that’s not what you thought back then. Every time I pulled your ear, you would cry your heart out, saying that I wasn’t your mother, so why should I care about you. I was so angry back then, haha.” As she laughed, Zou Yameng’s eyes reddened. The corners of her eyes were a little moist, and she didn’t want Lu Li to see, so she sat up straight.

“Okay, my hair is dry, I’m going to cook.”

“Sister.”

Lu Li stopped her.

“I’m not hungry, stay and watch TV with me.”

Zou Yameng sat back down and heard Lu Li say, “You can lean on me if you’re tired.”

“I’m not a child anymore.” She muttered, but seeing Lu Li open his arms, she leaned against her brother’s chest as if possessed, staring blankly at the TV, not even knowing what was playing.

Lu Li gently rubbed her head like he was coaxing a child, humming an unknown song. Zou Yameng had never heard this song before, but she felt that the melody was very beautiful, and she didn’t want to break the silence.

After who knows how long, the Korean drama ended, and the news started playing on TV. Sister Yameng, in Lu Li’s arms, had also fallen asleep, her sleeping face as peaceful as a baby’s. He hugged his sister, smelling the fragrance of her hair, lost in thought.

Early the next morning, before Lu Li went to school, he saw Sister Yameng dragging a small suitcase, ready to leave. He quickly walked over and took her shoulder bag, “Why are you bringing so many things?”

“I’m going to be gone for a month.” Zou Yameng said helplessly. “You have to take care of yourself while I’m gone, don’t just eat instant noodles. Here, I still have a thousand yuan.”

“What for?”

“Take it for food, don’t starve yourself.”

“That’s like living off you! I won’t do it.” Actually, it wasn’t because of that, but because he knew that Zou Yameng needed money when she was away from home.

As the saying goes, “When a couple is poor, everything is sad.” Although he and Sister Yameng weren’t a couple, he could still understand the sadness brought by poverty. This thousand yuan was probably not even pocket money in the eyes of a rich girl like Chu Jingyi. She couldn’t possibly understand this kind of pathetic life where they had to haggle over a thousand yuan.

In the end, to ease his sister’s worries, he only took five hundred yuan.

But when this boy, who was still nervous about holding five hundred yuan, arrived at school, Chu Jingyi, sitting in the back seat, said something shocking, “Lu Li, do you want to buy a computer?”

Chapter 9: Sister’s Secret

“I’m warning you, don’t bully girls.” As soon as the first afternoon class ended, Chu Jingyi blocked Lu Li’s way as he came out of the restroom, drawing ambiguous glances from the surrounding boys.

“What?” He hadn’t even finished adjusting his pants and was too embarrassed to fix his belt in front of the girl. “How did I bully any girls?”

“Baili’s eyes were all red. Did you bully her on the rooftop at noon?”

So that was it.

Lu Li explained as he walked, “I didn’t bully her. She was just too emotional. She said her family was poor and she didn’t have the opportunity to pursue her dreams, and she thanked me for giving her this chance.”

As expected, Chu Jingyi’s attention was diverted. She asked, “Is Baili’s family really poor?”

“Yes. You should look after her more, little rich girl.” He knew Chu Jingyi was a good person and wouldn’t look down on An Baili because of this.

“No wonder she ate so little at noon…” Chu Jingyi pondered, then suddenly reacted, “I’m not a little rich girl!”

“Your dad is the second in command of Chuanhai City, if you’re not a little rich girl, who is?”

Chu Jingyi exclaimed in surprise, “How did you know that?”

Looking at the silly girl’s exaggerated expression, Lu Li couldn’t help but chuckle. He took out the old phone that Sister Yameng had passed down to him, “I didn’t go online to check. I just searched for news and saw your dad standing in front, holding a speech manuscript.”

Chu Jingyi was a little unhappy, “My dad is my dad, what does that have to do with whether I’m a little rich girl or not?”

“Uh-huh.” Lu Li didn’t want to be a life coach for the child of a high-ranking official. He just hummed in agreement and discreetly adjusted his belt, which had been too tight.

Chu Jingyi suddenly looked at him with a strange expression, “You know you’re not allowed to bring phones to school, right?”

“I’m using it for legitimate purposes. Please, Class Monitor, make an exception for me.”

“Well… Just this once, don’t let it happen again.”

After her intentions were exposed, An Baili no longer hid her actions. When Lu Li returned to the classroom, he saw An Baili sitting in his seat, doing something. He coughed twice, and only then did An Baili reluctantly get up and give him his seat, blinking her eyes as if to say, “I warmed your seat for you, how thoughtful, right?”

Lu Li pretended not to see, took his water bottle from the drawer, and left.

The next class was the students’ favorite: PE. But it wasn’t really PE, it was more like free time. Lu Li planned to leave school early. He might as well skip PE class. Thinking of this, Lu Li couldn’t help but smile mischievously. He thought of a funny story where a single command made a hundred thousand special forces soldiers bow their heads in worship.

An Baili followed him like a little tail, silently trailing behind him. She followed Lu Li out of the school and watched him enter the subway station before finally showing an awkward expression. She didn’t have any money, no metro card, and she usually didn’t want to spend money on the subway, so she could only turn around and leave regretfully.

After An Baili left, Lu Li also walked out of the subway station. Are you kidding? A single subway ride cost twenty yuan. How could he, a student with no income, afford it? He didn’t have parents to give him an allowance.

Since he had already taken a detour, he might as well go to the Chuanhai Women’s Sports School and go home with his sister.

There were quite a few fashionably dressed handsome guys standing in front of the women’s sports school, all pitiful souls waiting to pick up their girlfriends. Seeing Lu Li coming over, a young man even enthusiastically made room for him.

After chatting with the guy for a while, he suddenly ran towards the school gate with a cheerful expression, helping a girl with a round face carry her backpack. Looking at the young man’s back, Lu Li couldn’t help but shake his head.

Suddenly, he saw his sister walking out of the gate with her head down. He also ran towards the school gate cheerfully, about to help his sister with her bag, when he suddenly noticed that she was typing on her phone with her head down, seemingly unaware of his arrival.

Was she chatting with someone? So focused? She wasn’t even looking at the road?

He swore to God that he wasn’t deliberately peeking. It was just that he had grown taller in recent years, and naturally, he could see more when he was standing tall.

It was a WeChat group, the group name was “High School Girls’ Passionate Chat Group.”

He knew this group. It was a chat group for Zou Yameng and her teammates. The girls in the group often talked about some indecent things. He had once been pinned down by Sister Yameng for more than half an hour for taking a peek.

Should he look?

Not looking wouldn’t be Chinese!

Driven by curiosity, Lu Li looked down and saw that the group was sending some strange links and codes, and they were all tagging Sister Yameng. Her phone kept buzzing.

Sunshine Rainbow Little White Horse (Zou Yameng): Stop sending them, that’s enough, that’s enough!

Muzi Yi: Hahaha

Ten Pounds of Fat That Will Never Be Lost: Use Thunder to download it, I guarantee you’ll be satisfied

Sunshine Rainbow Little White Horse: Really?

“Sister.” Lu Li coughed, startling Zou Yameng so much that she almost dropped her phone.

Zou Yameng’s eyes were filled with panic. She quickly turned off the screen, “Why are you here? And why are you peeking at my phone?”

“Huh? My PE class ended early today, so I came to pick you up. Cough, cough, I just got here, I didn’t see anything.”

Zou Yameng was skeptical, “Really didn’t peek?”

“What are you doing on your phone? It’s so secretive.” Lu Li turned the tables and pretended to grab her phone, but his hand was swatted away by Zou Yameng.

“Don’t peek at your sister’s privacy!” For some reason, Zou Yameng’s face was slightly flushed. She took the initiative to hold Lu Li’s hand, “You don’t have to come pick me up in the future. You must be tired from walking all the way here.”

Lu Li felt happy, “It’s okay.”

“Don’t be startled by the wine, sleep soundly through spring. Gamble on books, dispel the fragrance of spilled tea. At the time, I only thought it was ordinary.” The regained love and care made Lu Li feel a little lightheaded. He couldn’t help but tighten his grip on his sister’s hand, determined to protect her in this life. If he found out who made his sister so depressed in his previous life, he would definitely make that bastard taste his iron fist!

The two of them strolled down the street towards home, their pace slow, as if they were both enjoying this warm atmosphere. Wasn’t the purpose of life to love and be loved? If one truly struggled alone for a lifetime, ending up like Yan Jiansheng, clutching two fingers in his dying breath, with no one who understood him by his side, that would be a true failure.

When they arrived home, the afterglow of the setting sun bathed the eaves, the warm and cool light intermingling, creating a beautiful scene with the beautiful woman beside him.

After a day of training, the first thing Sister Yameng did when she got home was to take a shower. Lu Li sat casually in the small living room of his sister’s house. The TV in her house was an old-fashioned square TV, the kind that couldn’t be found on the market anymore. Every time the TV broke down, his sister would just slap it a few times, making Lu Li worry that the old thing would explode one day.

A boring Korean drama was playing on TV. He watched listlessly, then suddenly saw Sister Yameng’s phone screen light up. An unread message appeared on the lock screen:

Ten Pounds of Fat That Will Never Be Lost: Yameng, Yameng, I found one that meets your requirements!

After a few minutes, “Ten Pounds of Fat That Will Never Be Lost” sent another long string of characters:

“WSSB250-Amazing! My little brother grew up to be a handsome young man with a huge d*ck! Big win for the development system!”

This familiar yet strange format made Lu Li frown. He realized that something was not right.

He quickly flipped the phone over, pretending he had never seen anything.

Urgent! Need help online! How to avoid getting beaten by my sister!

Chapter 8: This is the Last Time

“It’s about the protagonist saving a good ghost. To help it find peace, he has to fulfill its last wish. This good ghost was a homeless man in his previous life, and his only wish was to have a kind person treat him to a meal.”

Somehow, the topic shifted to Lu Li’s script from yesterday.

Chu Jingyi was as enthusiastic as a salesperson. Her small leather shoes under the table kept kicking Lu Li’s chair out of excitement, making him sigh helplessly again and again.

An Baili also asked with interest, “And then?”

“Then the protagonist invites him to his home for a night. That night, after the protagonist tidied up his house, he opened the door, but humans can’t see ghosts. He only felt a gust of cold wind and then closed the door. But soon he discovered some unusual things, like the single serving of food he prepared was gone in just a few seconds, there were footsteps coming from the bathroom and bedroom at the same time, and when the player controlled the protagonist to hide under the bed at night, he could see four or five pairs of legs standing still in front of his bed.”

Chu Jingyi’s storytelling skills were terrible. He didn’t know how An Baili could even listen to it.

The last piece of potato was gone, and Lu Li was about to make his escape. Just then, Chu Jingyi finished the story, “So that’s Lu Li’s script, how is it? Scary, right?”

Look at her smugness, as if she was the one who wrote the script.

An Baili finally revealed her true purpose, “I also know a little bit about musical instruments. Can I join you guys? I don’t need money either…”

Chu Jingyi happily grabbed An Baili’s hand, “Sure, sure, we’re short of people! Lu Li, right?”

She didn’t even call him “classmate” anymore, just Lu Li?

Did Lu Li want her to join? Of course not! He wanted to keep a distance of at least a hundred meters from An Baili.

“But you’re already in charge of the music…”

“The more the merrier!”

“Uh-huh.”

Lu Li could only nod perfunctorily. An Baili was indeed cunning. She actually knew how to approach him through Chu Jingyi. Was this a high school version of a business dinner? Looking at Chu Jingyi, she had probably been fed hundreds of gallons of love potion by the “reserved and sensible” An Baili.

He left the cafeteria, ignoring the calls of the two girls behind him, and went up to the rooftop alone.

This feeling of being alone at a height was intoxicating. The sky was like a blue backdrop, and the white clouds were its folds. He used to fantasize about the shapes of clouds. This cloud was a pegasus, that cloud was an evil gargoyle… Hmm, it did look quite similar. Now he preferred this vast silence, without Chu Jingyi, without An Baili, especially the latter.

There were gray cigarette butts on the edge of the rooftop. He didn’t know which bad student had secretly smoked here. On the wall by the stairs, there was also some chuunibyou graffiti that read, “This sword may be humble, but it has broken through thousands of troops with this body!” He didn’t know if the person who wrote this had graduated yet. They should keep this kind of dark history and play it on a big screen at their wedding.

He could also look down on the young couples acting like thieves in the school garden. He had to admit, Chuanhai No. 1 High School was really rich. They had built four gardens like this. Ah, over there, a student council member with a red armband was walking towards the garden. He hoped that the young couple wouldn’t get caught.

Just as Lu Li was enjoying the various scenes of the school, he heard soft footsteps behind him.

How well did Lu Li know An Baili? He could tell from the dragging, weight, and force of the footsteps that it was An Baili. Only she walked so timidly.

It was only An Baili, Chu Jingyi hadn’t followed.

“Classmate?” Lu Li was still acting.

“Li.” An Baili’s voice was very gentle. “You came back too, didn’t you?”

There was no panic in Lu Li’s eyes. He turned around silently, pretending not to hear. An Baili wasn’t as naive as Chu Jingyi. After hearing the script that was so different from his previous life, could she not guess the truth? He didn’t know what expression to make when his lie was exposed. Actually, all he had to do was smile.

So he smiled, “What are you talking about?”

Smiling, playing dumb, and staying silent were the three great treasures of men. There was another treasure, “I’m too tired from work today, I need to rest early.” Apart from the fourth treasure, Lu Li was a master of the first three.

“I was suspicious that day when I saw you near the phone store.” An Baili took off her ugly glasses and approached Lu Li. “You came back too, didn’t you?”

An Baili’s features were delicate. Coupled with her pitiful expression, Lu Li couldn’t help but look away, “So what if I did?”

Sigh, he had given himself away.

Lu Li, Lu Li, when will you stop being such a pushover?

An Baili took two steps forward excitedly, but then took half a step back as if realizing something, “I’m happy, and I’m sad.”

“I’m happy that you’re still you, that you still have the precious memories that we share.”

“I’m sad that I can’t make you love me again.”

“Don’t be angry anymore, don’t leave me again, okay?”

Like a dog begging for mercy.

“Let’s start over, okay? Just like our lives, I’ll change whatever you say, until you’re satisfied…”

“Enough. An Baili.” Lu Li stopped pretending. “Have you had enough?”

“…”

“The moment you lit that lighter, the last bit of love I had for you disappeared.” His voice was icy cold. An Baili subconsciously covered her ears. She didn’t want to hear such cold words.

“Our lives have already restarted, why are you still dwelling on the past? Just like I told you before…”

An Baili interrupted him, “The past cannot be changed, the future has not yet arrived, we only have the present, right?”

“You know that.” Lu Li felt his throat was a little hoarse. “Let’s just leave it at that. You live your life, I live mine, we don’t bother each other, okay?”

He had thought over every word three or four times in his head. He didn’t dare to provoke An Baili too much because he knew that this woman was mentally unstable. He would never choose to rekindle a relationship with a woman who had murderous tendencies. The moral bottom line of modern society was constantly being raised. Taking revenge was considered antisocial in modern times, and having murderous tendencies would be labeled as “antisocial personality disorder.” Lu Li, who had received a modern education, naturally couldn’t accept such an An Baili.

She could be immature, she could be difficult, she could be noisy, but she couldn’t have flaws in her character.

An Baili’s eyes were filled with tears, “To me, my past is worthless, my future has long been buried, all I have is you.”

“You should have your own dreams, hobbies, you should have your own life. Life is not just about love.”

“…Li, only you. Only you.” She repeated.

Just when Lu Li thought she was about to lose control again, An Baili took a few steps back, “I will make you fall in love with me again. Whether it’s once, or a hundred times.”

No, I will never fall in love with you again, you don’t understand why at all. Lu Li sighed in his heart.

Having said all he could, Lu Li lost his mood. He turned to leave the rooftop. As he passed by An Baili, he heard her ask timidly, “Li, can you hug me? Just once…”

Lu Li said nothing, did nothing.

At this time, no matter what he said, no matter what he did, it would be wrong. An Baili was already trapped in her own world. The best thing to do was to avoid her – she was like a drowning person, instinctively grabbing the nearest person. In the past, Lu Li tried to save her, but he was only dragged into the abyss with her.

“Please, just once, just for a second…” Her voice was trembling, as if she was about to cry.

An Baili, you’re really something.

Lu Li sighed and slowly embraced the girl’s soft body. An Baili had a natural fragrance, a kind of floral scent. He used to love burying his head in her neck.

He was a soft-hearted person.

He also wished he was the kind of person who could proudly write his autobiography at the age of sixty, proudly introducing how unyielding and ruthless he was, as if such qualities were the key to success. But he wasn’t.

He was not only soft-hearted towards women, but also towards children, the elderly, the poor… It was a disease. In his previous life, after he had no worries about food and clothing, he began to devote himself to rural development. He built many schools, sponsored many poor students, and personally advocated for the disadvantaged.

An Baili’s soft voice rang out, “Lu Li, I love you so much.” She greedily inhaled the scent of the boy. Even though it was just the smell of laundry detergent, it still intoxicated her.

“This is the last time.”

Lu Li let go of the embrace and left the rooftop without looking back. Halfway there, he couldn’t help but slap himself.

Chapter 7: Knowing Everything (Part 2)

An Baili had been waiting on this unavoidable path. Seeing Lu Li, she pretended to bump into him, “Ah, Lu Li, Chu… Class Monitor Chu, good morning~” She probably didn’t even remember the class monitor’s name, did she? And they shouldn’t be this familiar at this point, right?

Lu Li gave a lukewarm greeting, his mind racing for a way to escape.

An Baili’s attire was that of a typical country girl. Her demeanor was gloomy, and her personality was withdrawn. He didn’t know what had influenced her to be like this. An Baili never mentioned her family, and even her parents didn’t show up at their wedding in his previous life. Maybe her extreme personality was due to her family?

“Ah, An Baili, hello.” Chu Jingyi truly had the demeanor of a well-bred young lady. She was gentle, elegant, and poised. Her smile was incredibly infectious, and he didn’t know how many naive boys had been misled by this smile, falling into one of the ten biggest misconceptions in life.

However, An Baili’s eyes, hidden behind her thick glasses, were fixed on Lu Li. Her gaze was like a hungry tiger spotting its prey. She concealed it well, and this look only lasted for a moment before she said with a smile, “What a coincidence, I didn’t expect to run into you two here? By the way, are you going to school together?”

Chu Jingyi didn’t notice the slight chill in An Baili’s tone and started to explain in a flustered manner why she was going to school with Lu Li. Maybe nothing had happened between them, but under Chu Jingyi’s clumsy explanation, An Baili’s gaze became even more undisguised.

Looking at the two of them, Lu Li felt a sense of helplessness. He was helpless about the class monitor’s cluelessness and An Baili’s persistence.

Let it all burn. I’m tired.

He shook his head, leaving the two girls behind, and walked towards the classroom alone. An Baili immediately ignored Chu Jingyi’s rambling and followed Lu Li, but she didn’t try to talk to him. She just obediently trailed behind. She knew Lu Li like the back of her hand and knew that he wasn’t someone who liked to be restrained. Deliberately approaching him would only annoy him.

It was precisely because she knew Lu Li too well that Lu Li chose the most passive resistance in his previous life. Because he knew that apart from a signed document, he couldn’t resist An Baili at all. To Lu Li, An Baili was like a flying drought demon, who had him, a mere mortal, completely under her control.

Sitting in the back row of the classroom, Lu Li listened to the two girls behind him chatting idly, and another children’s song came to his mind:

“Under the big tree in front of the door, a group of ducks swam by, quacking and quacking, unable to find their mother~”

“What are you singing?” Chu Jingyi couldn’t help but frown.

“A children’s song, isn’t it nice?”

“It’s awful.”

He could only shut his mouth and continue singing in his heart.

The homeroom teacher held a class meeting, announcing that there would be a diagnostic test tomorrow and telling everyone to go back and prepare. What diagnostic test? It was clearly a ranking and classification meeting for the class’s micro-ecosystem. Those with good grades would be grouped together, those with bad grades would be grouped together, those with good family backgrounds would sit in the front, and those with poor family backgrounds would squat in the corner. The little bit of attachment Lu Li had to school was completely eradicated by reality.

No wonder love was humanity’s eternal pursuit. In the face of such a terrible world, everyone needed love as a buffer. It was just a pity that true love only existed in imagination. In reality, there was only the grave of love. Lu Li’s mind was filled with chaotic thoughts, his thoughts drifting away with the birds outside the window.

After pretending to attend class for the morning, Lu Li went to the cafeteria to get his lunch. As expected, the food in the cafeteria was still so expensive, thirty yuan for a meal. And many students looked down on such student meals, unaware that in Lu Li’s eyes, such a meal was no different from one made of gold. When he was at his worst, he had to eat steamed buns for lunch.

He found a secluded seat and sat down. After taking a few bites, he saw Class Monitor Chu carrying her tray and sitting across from him, while that woman An Baili sat diagonally opposite, only Chu Jingyi failing to notice her.

“Class Monitor, you going to school with me, eating with me, it’s easy for people to misunderstand.” Lu Li said helplessly.

Chu Jingyi had gotten used to Lu Li’s teasing. Her face only flushed slightly as she sat down, “Firstly, I’m not the class monitor anymore, the class officers haven’t been elected yet. Secondly, I’m sitting here to talk to you about something, it’s not something that would cause a misunderstanding!”

“What is it?”

“You’re just too amazing!” Chu Jingyi’s eyes were sparkling. “That plot yesterday was so exciting, I felt my scalp tingling just thinking about it on the way back! Especially the part where the protagonist invites the invisible guest to his home. I thought it was just one good ghost, but when I thought about it carefully, I realized there was more than one! When I was reading it, I was just captivated, but thinking back on it now, it’s terrifying!”

Lu Li also became interested in talking about it, “That’s right, I deliberately arranged for the player to make a lot of choices at this stage. If the player doesn’t realize the truth, they will keep triggering bad endings. And the players who do realize the truth will be drawn into the horror atmosphere. This is more effective than directly creating a horror atmosphere. Who says horror game screens have to be dark and gloomy?”

Chu Jingyi was so excited that she couldn’t even eat, “You’re amazing! Just this script alone, it’s not just good enough for a game, it’s good enough for a movie!”

“…Not really. If it’s adapted, the process will be different. At least with an indie game, I can keep my ideas intact.” Lu Li thought of the past, and couldn’t help but feel a little melancholy. He had sold the adaptation rights to a game in his previous life. The producers said they wanted to cater to the female market, but they ended up changing the plot beyond recognition, and it was met with a lot of criticism.

“So, are you willing to join my small team?”

“How many people are in your small team now? I don’t like working with strangers…” Chu Jingyi calmed down and stirred the food in her plate with her chopsticks, a conflicted look on her face. It was obvious that she really wanted to participate in the production of this game.

“Just you and me. Congratulations, you’re a founding member!”

A smile bloomed on Chu Jingyi’s face, but then she deliberately put on a stern expression, “But you can’t use this as an excuse to skip class, and I won’t go easy on you because of this!”

Lu Li chuckled and didn’t answer.

An Baili carried her tray and sat down next to Chu Jingyi, asking curiously, “What are you guys talking about? You seem so happy?”

Chu Jingyi noticed that An Baili’s tray only had a portion of cabbage and rice in seaweed soup, and couldn’t help but exclaim, “Baili, why are you only eating this much?”

An Baili was a girl after all, unlike Lu Li who could shamelessly admit that he had no money. She lowered her head and said, “…I’m on a diet.”

A diet? Lu Li lost his appetite. He couldn’t bear to see this woman’s self-abuse. He deliberately lowered his head to avoid looking, lest his soft-heartedness act up again. It was the same in his previous life. Because of his soft heart, he and An Baili were tightly bound together.

An Baili had a weak stomach and suffered from dysmenorrhea, which were all root causes from high school. She couldn’t take painkillers because they would aggravate her stomach problems. Every time she ate something slightly spicy, she would turn pale and squat on the ground, unable to move. How could Lu Li not know An Baili like the back of his hand?

“Don’t eat rice in soup.” Lu Li said with his head down. “It’s not good for your stomach.”

An Baili obediently said “oh” and actually put down her chopsticks, looking at the crown of Lu Li’s head like a good little girl.

Chu Jingyi looked at the two of them strangely. She felt that the atmosphere between them was very odd. This kind of conversation, like that of an old married couple, was so natural, as if they were very familiar with each other.

Was it just her imagination?

Chapter 6: Knowing Everything (Part 1)

Morning. Trees lined both sides of the road, casting dappled shadows on the asphalt. The sound of cars was still sparse, and there seemed to be a thin film between people, making even their voices sound distant and indistinct.

The first hour after sunrise was a treasure bestowed upon mankind by the world. It was quiet and peaceful, allowing Lu Li to experience a leisurely tranquility like that of a hermit returning from the mountains. Carrying his backpack, Lu Li inexplicably thought of a children’s song:

“The sun shines bright, the flowers smile at me~ The little bird says, early, early, early, why are you carrying a bomb?~”

School was like a besieged city. Those inside wanted to get out, and those outside wanted to get back in. It was hard to say what Lu Li’s mood was now. He just felt that putting aside the distant future and enjoying the present wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. What pulled Lu Li out of this carefree state of mind was a black luxury car.

This black car wasn’t considered expensive in Chuanhai, but its advantage was that it was both modest and classy, the favorite model of local government officials.

The car stopped by the roadside, the window rolled down, and he saw the class monitor, Chu Jingyi, waving excitedly, “Lu Li, get in, we’re going the same way.” It was actually Chu Jingyi’s family car. The girl was obviously not as reserved as usual, her face flushed, urging Lu Li to get in as if she was afraid he wouldn’t.

If he was alone with Chu Jingyi, Lu Li wouldn’t feel awkward. But when he saw a refined middle-aged man in the driver’s seat smiling at him, he subconsciously felt his stomach churn, as if the alcohol from last night was about to come out of his ears. He shook his head, reminding himself that he was still a student, not a businessman going to a social event.

The middle-aged man had a very gentle smile. His eyes narrowed into slits when he smiled, giving the impression that he was easy to talk to.

“This is my dad.” Chu Jingyi introduced shyly. She rarely told her classmates about her family. “He’s giving us a ride to school.”

“Hello, Uncle Chu.” Lu Li looked very well-behaved. At Chu Jingyi’s father’s gesture, he sat down in the back seat, but only perched on the edge, indicating that he was not at ease.

The car slowly started. Lu Li rested his chin on his hand, looking out the window, lost in thought. Chu Jingyi looked like she wanted to say something to him, but she was hesitant because of her father’s presence. Her anxious look was obvious.

Uncle Chu smiled playfully, “Lu Li, is it? Can I just call you Xiao Lu?” His tone was friendly, his attitude approachable, there was nothing to fault.

“Xiao Lu, are you and Jingyi in the same class this year? Haha, Jingyi kept praising you yesterday. I specifically took this route to meet you, Xiao Lu.”

His frankness surprised Lu Li slightly. He looked at Chu Jingyi, who had turned her face away. Yesterday, he had shown the class monitor the plot and script of his game, and she had immediately praised it profusely. Only then did Lu Li realize that she was an avid fan of horror literature – quite different from her quiet and dignified appearance.

Lu Li appropriately showed the shyness of a teenager, “I only got to know the class monitor recently.”

“Work hard and try to get into a good university.”

What did he mean by that? Encouragement? It sounded like the encouragement of an elder to a junior, but Lu Li keenly sensed something unusual. However, the man’s impeccable smile didn’t give him any answers. They chatted about some everyday things, with Chu Jingyi’s father asking the questions and Lu Li answering honestly.

When the car stopped in front of the school, Uncle Chu said with some reluctance, “Bring Xiao Lu to our house to play during the holidays. Don’t always stay cooped up in your room.” This was directed at Chu Jingyi, who had been acting like an ostrich.

“Oh.” Chu Jingyi squeezed out a long “oh,” making Lu Li chuckle secretly. She blushed and glanced at Lu Li.

“Let’s go, let’s go, we’re going to be late.”

There was still half an hour before morning reading, it was still early, how could they be late? Lu Li didn’t say anything more, obediently got out of the car, thanked Uncle Chu, and saw Chu Jingyi trotting towards the school. The girl obviously had more to say, why was she running so fast?

He quickly caught up to her and said with a smile, “Your dad’s car has already left.”

“I’m so embarrassed.” She looked like steam was coming out of her head, her mouth mumbling non-stop.

“Really?” Lu Li chuckled. “I’m very happy. It’s a very lucky thing for me that someone likes what I wrote. Why would you be embarrassed?”

Hearing Lu Li’s words, Chu Jingyi finally turned her flushed face towards him, “Because he, he kept bringing up yesterday, making it sound like, making it sound like…” Making it sound like she and Lu Li were very close, but they had only gotten to know each other recently. Chu Jingyi usually seemed serious and aloof, but she was actually quite thin-skinned.

“Making it sound like what?” Lu Li deliberately teased her.

Chu Jingyi angrily stomped on his foot with her small leather shoe, “You did that on purpose too!”

Lu Li pretended to be in pain. The blush on Chu Jingyi’s face finally faded, and she snorted twice, showing more of a lively side than the class monitor in his memory. He thought for a moment and finally asked, “What does your dad do?”

“He works for the government.” She answered cautiously. Her beautiful eyes darted around, and she pouted slightly, “Why are you asking?”

“I’m just preparing in advance.”

“You, what are you preparing for?” She was a little annoyed, but quickly realized that Lu Li was teasing her again.

“I’m afraid your dad might misunderstand something, thinking that a toad like me wants to eat swan meat.” He said half-jokingly, but he didn’t mean it as a joke. Chu Jingyi’s father was definitely in a high position, how could he personally drive to work? Taking his daughter to school was just an excuse, his main purpose was to see him, right?

Chu Jingyi became anxious, “My dad is not that kind of person! Ah! No! What nonsense are you talking about!” She was about to stomp on Lu Li’s foot again, but he dodged it this time. Chu Jingyi said angrily, “I’m not talking to you anymore!”

Are you a primary school student? Lu Li enjoyed teasing such innocent children. He just followed behind Chu Jingyi with a smile, waiting to see when she couldn’t hold back and wanted to talk. He had already noticed it in the car just now. Chu Jingyi probably wanted to talk about yesterday’s plot. Lu Li was still somewhat confident. The plot and script he wrote now were imbued with the experience of his decades-long life in his previous life. The depth of his writing far surpassed that of his peers.

It was only natural that he would win the favor of a horror enthusiast like Chu Jingyi.

The script he showed Chu Jingyi yesterday was a revised and recreated version of the original script after his rebirth. He had almost completely overturned and rewritten the original script. Every scene and every detail was the result of his meticulous crafting.

He was confident that it would be a hit – as long as he found the right musician and artist.

Just as Lu Li was walking on the school road with the class monitor, admiring her delicate and lovely ears, someone he least wanted to see appeared.

Chapter 5: Zou Yameng’s Worries

The Chuanhai City Women’s Sports School was a nationally renowned sports school, known as the training ground for the national women’s team. Compared to the wealthy students of Chuanhai No. 1 High School, the athletes of Chuanhai Sports School were much more ordinary. They rarely talked about luxury goods and car brands, and were more concerned about the competition schedule for the second half of the year.

Today was September 1st, the start of the new semester at Chuanhai Sports School. Of course, the girls at Chuanhai Sports School didn’t care whether school started or not. After all, they spent two seasons of the year training in the gym and the other two seasons traveling all over the country for competitions.

Zou Yameng finished her training for the day. She brushed her sweat-drenched hair back, her face flushed, beads of perspiration clinging to her skin. Whenever there was a provincial competition coming up, she would double her training load. In another week, she would be representing Chuanhai Sports School in the Six Provinces Tournament.

This was her last year at Chuanhai Sports School. Sports students like her couldn’t apply to universities. If they weren’t recruited by a city-level or higher team before graduation, they could only apply to be PE teachers in county towns. If that happened, all her years of hard work and struggle would be for nothing. Zou Yameng had submitted applications to provincial teams in three neighboring provinces this year, but none of them had responded. Maybe it was because she was still a nobody? Because she hadn’t won any awards in provincial competitions yet?

Zou Yameng unscrewed the cap of her water bottle and gulped down the sweet mineral water. She wanted to continue training, but was stopped by her coach.

The coach was retired from the national team and had been working at Chuanhai Sports School for more than twenty years. She had a hardworking husband and an obedient daughter. Zou Yameng often envied her coach, thinking that her coach had a perfect life. She had won championships and had a happy family. Zou Yameng often used her coach’s life as a model for her own dreams.

“You need to rest.” The coach, who usually only urged the girls to train harder, now looked worried. “Your training intensity is too high. It’s a heavy burden on your body and can easily lead to hidden injuries. I heard you had a leg cramp during training yesterday?”

It was just a cramp, no big deal. Zou Yameng thought to herself, besides, if she didn’t push herself, how could she make it to the provincial team? This Six Provinces Tournament might be the last major competition of the year. If she missed this opportunity, there really wouldn’t be another one. She knew that Li wanted to go to college, but they didn’t have the money. If she joined the provincial team, she would have a monthly salary of eight thousand yuan and a competition bonus of fifty thousand yuan. As long as she won a few more competitions, wouldn’t Li’s college tuition be covered?

The coach patiently persuaded her, and Zou Yameng listened obediently, but her mind was made up. She felt that her body was still young and could withstand high-intensity training. At least for the next five years, there wouldn’t be any problems, right?

The gym closed, and Zou Yameng could only leave with her teammates, carrying her sports bag.

The girls from the women’s sports school were more enthusiastic and lively than ordinary high school girls. Their strong, tanned legs, exposed beneath their athletic shorts, glowed beautifully in the setting sun. Zou Yameng’s good friend wrapped her arms around her waist and wailed, “Ya I’m so tired~ Give me a hug, let me recharge, okay?”

The girls burst into laughter. Zou Yameng chided with a smile, “Why don’t you go find your boyfriend for a hug?”

“Wuwuwu~ We broke up, last month.” The girl pouted. “Men are trash. Remember that time we went to Jindong for the competition?”

Jindong was located in the far north, sparsely populated and extremely far from Chuanhai. Zou Yameng had a deep impression of that trip to Jindong. Not only was the journey long and tiring, but they were also brutally defeated by a girls’ school team from Jindong. On the way back, they were all exhausted and demoralized.

“Didn’t we spend two months in Jindong? Just two months apart, and that scumbag moved on!” The girl pulled a long face. “He also said that I couldn’t always be with him, that he couldn’t feel the warmth of a girlfriend. You tell me, I train my butt off every day and have to go to competitions, how can I have the energy to go on dates with a boyfriend?”

The girls always formed a united front on this kind of issue, chattering and criticizing the heartless men. However, a sense of unease that shouldn’t have been there arose in Zou Yameng’s heart. She was going to participate in the Six Provinces Tournament soon, which would last for more than a month. Would Li bring home a girlfriend by the time she came back?

She wouldn’t normally have such petty worries, but recently, when she was with Lu Li, she always had all sorts of insecure thoughts. Walking down the street and seeing fashionably dressed girls, she even felt a strange sense of inferiority. These delicate emotions had only emerged in the past few days. Heaven knew that she had always held a contemptuous attitude towards those love-struck, sentimental girls.

“Yeah, yeah, men are all like that. Sigh, it’s tough being a woman.”

“Hmph, let them have periods every month and see how they like it, the bunch of jerks.”

As they chattered on, Zou Yameng subconsciously wanted to avoid the topic and took out her phone, pretending to read messages. Someone exclaimed in exaggeration, “Yameng, you got a new phone? What a beautiful phone~ Heehee, who gave it to you?”

Zou Yameng felt a surge of pride. It was given to me by my lovely brother. But she was also worried that they would keep asking, so she pouted and said, “Can’t I buy it myself?” You guys don’t have such a sensible and caring brother, huh? Hmph, I’m not telling you.

“Tsk~ Yameng, you’re usually so stingy, how could you bear to spend money on such a beautiful phone?”

“It must have been given by a man.”

“No wonder you were acting so hesitant just now. Oh my, has spring finally arrived for Yameng?”

Zou Yameng blushed. They always spoke without thinking when they were together. If they continued, who knew what nonsense they would come up with? She quickly explained, “It was given to me by my brother. He earned the money from his summer job.” She was conflicted. She wanted to show off her brother, but she also didn’t want them to pay too much attention to him. She found an excuse for herself. These women were always heartless. She was just protecting Lu Li from the onslaught of these she-wolves.

“Yameng, you actually have a brother? Why haven’t you ever told us?”

“I think I’ve seen him before. Was it the boy who delivered clothes to you at the school gate last time?”

Zou Yameng didn’t expect them to remember Lu Li coming to deliver clothes. That day, she had been in such a hurry that she had forgotten her training clothes. When she got to school and realized, she was anxious. But Lu Li had already arrived with her clothes.

“That fair-skinned boy? Ah, I remember him.”

“Heehee, Yameng, you actually hid your brother from us, how could you? Quickly send us his picture and contact information, let me check if he’s developing properly~”

They burst into laughter again, making all sorts of dirty jokes. Zou Yameng’s face grew hotter and hotter. Fortunately, the afterglow of the setting sun masked her blush. Otherwise, she would have wanted to find a hole to hide in. She was usually immune to her teammates’ suggestive jokes. She knew that these girls were all talk and no action. When they actually met a good man, they would all shy away. But today, hearing them talk about Lu Li, she couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

“Oh, actually, a brother’s shelf life is only a few years.” The girl who had just broken up with her boyfriend said with a sad face. “Once he grows up a little, he’ll meet a girl he likes and slowly forget that he has a sister. My pen pal’s brother is like that. He was so well-behaved and sensible when he was young, so cute. But then he started skipping class and kissing girls, making his sister get called to the principal’s office all the time. She couldn’t talk to him, he wouldn’t listen, he would talk back when scolded, and he would run away from home if she hit him. Sigh, what a headache.”

“Is that so?” Zou Yameng didn’t really understand. She felt that Lu Li shouldn’t be that rebellious, right?

“Uh-huh, maybe by the time you come back from the tournament, Yameng, you’ll see your sister-in-law.” It was a heartless joke, but it hit Zou Yameng’s worries right on the mark. Her face darkened. She imagined the scene: Lu Li holding the hand of a strange woman, embracing in the room that belonged to her and Lu Li. Her heart ached as if it were being squeezed. She knew she was making herself unhappy, but once this thought popped up, she couldn’t stop it.

After returning to the low-rent apartment, Zou Yameng took a shower and went next door to Lu Li’s place. For some reason, she wore the same camisole and shorts as last time, revealing a large expanse of her fair, alluring skin after the shower. Usually, she felt relaxed and comfortable at Lu Li’s place, but today, she felt uneasy.

She stood in front of the full-length mirror in Lu Li’s room, cupping her breasts, feeling that they were fuller and heavier than last month. She had always felt that this was a burden as an athlete, but now, her hand unconsciously caressed her ample bosom as her mind raced with chaotic thoughts. Suddenly, the alarm on her phone went off, startling Zou Yameng from her reverie.

The alarm was set for six o’clock, the time she usually made dinner for Lu Li. But Lu Li hadn’t returned from school yet. Was he kept after class? Zou Yameng walked into the small, cramped kitchen and started cooking for Lu Li. Half an hour later, she set the dishes on the small folding table, but Lu Li still hadn’t returned.

After reheating the food, Zou Yameng finally couldn’t sit still. She was going to go back and change her clothes to look for Lu Li. But just then, she heard the sound of a key turning in the lock. Lu Li’s figure appeared at the door. He looked a little tired, but at least he was in one piece. Zou Yameng immediately hugged her brother, her heart finally at ease.

Because of their childhood experiences, she and Lu Li were both insecure people. Whenever Lu Li came home even a little late, she couldn’t help but worry. Had he been in a car accident? Had he been robbed? Had he… Lu Li was her only family left, even though they weren’t blood-related. She didn’t want to lose the brother she had depended on for more than ten years.

Feeling Sister Yameng’s concern, Lu Li’s heart warmed. He also wrapped his arms around her waist, only to realize that the fabric of her clothes was thinner than he had imagined. The soft, warm body of the girl pressed against his arm. Even though their skin wasn’t touching, it felt even more intimate than direct contact. His adult mind couldn’t control his teenage body. He awkwardly pushed his sister away, afraid that she would notice his predicament.

“It’s the first day of school, and I had some things to discuss with the class officers, so I came back a little late.” He had gone to explain his game production plan to Chu Jingyi. To his surprise, Chu Jingyi, who had always been a goody-two-shoes, was actually very enthusiastic about horror games. She kept asking questions, and if An Baili hadn’t deliberately interrupted, he probably would have had to answer a million more questions from the curious girl.

Meeting Lu Li’s gaze, Zou Yameng felt her whole body burning. She must be crazy to wear such revealing clothes. But that wasn’t right. She used to wear this at home too, so why didn’t she feel embarrassed before? Afraid that Lu Li would ask, she quickly pulled him to sit down, “Let’s eat, the food is getting cold.”

Suddenly, Zou Yameng sniffed the air, the shyness on her face replaced by suspicion, “Why do you smell like perfume?”

It wasn’t perfume, it was the faint milky scent from Chu Jingyi. Lu Li didn’t expect his sister’s nose to be so sensitive. Chu Jingyi must have been too excited and forgotten about boundaries, constantly asking about the horror plot like an avid fan. No wonder she also wanted to buy that Handing Jin horror novel at the bookstore that day. Lu Li didn’t want to get too involved with An Baili, Chu Jingyi, or any of these people. He just wanted to finish this game. Because this was the first nail he was driving in to pursue his dream.

With the experience and vision from twenty years of working in his previous life, he believed that his first game would definitely be a hit.

But whether it would be a hit or not was a matter for the future. The problem now was how to explain it to Sister Yameng.

“Was that class officer a boy or a girl?” Lu Li felt that Sister Yameng was acting strange today, not like a sister but like a thirty-year-old wife catching her husband cheating.

He scratched his head awkwardly and told her the truth. He didn’t want to lie to Sister Yameng. From his game production plan, to the class monitor Chu Jingyi’s musical talent, to their long talk after school, he told Sister Yameng everything. He watched as her expression became more and more strange. He couldn’t tell what kind of expression it was, it seemed to be a mixture of entanglement and anger.

Finally, Zou Yameng just sighed, “Let’s eat.” She suddenly felt like she was nothing. She couldn’t draw, she couldn’t sing, she couldn’t even plan, she was of no help to Lu Li’s dream. A wave of frustration surged in her heart. This feeling of helplessness as an outsider made her want to cry. Her brother had grown up and didn’t need her anymore.

Lu Li picked up a piece of beef and put it in his sister’s bowl, “Sister, I also have something to ask of you. If my game has a demo version, can you be a playtester and give me some suggestions? The gaming experience of non-professionals is very, very, very important to me. Besides you, Sister, I can’t find anyone else to help.”

Seeing Lu Li’s gentle smile, a thought popped into Zou Yameng’s mind: Did Lu Li see her sadness and deliberately say that? She couldn’t help but smile and softly agreed. Then she heard Lu Li mutter to himself, “After this game sells well, I’ll definitely buy a big house for Sister and me, so we can eat beef every meal. That’s what I’m working towards.”

Zou Yameng’s eyes reddened. She finally understood that Lu Li was comforting her. Her brother was so thoughtful, how could he not see that she was sad? These words were not so much words of comfort from Lu Li as they were his confession. Lu Li was working hard for her, and wasn’t she also fighting for Lu Li? This sense of mutual dedication filled her heart with warmth. She secretly glanced at Lu Li, seeing her brother obediently eating with his head down. Her gaze unconsciously fell on his lips, which were shiny with oil, and a taboo thought flashed through her mind.

Zou Yameng quickly averted her gaze, struggling to suppress that strange thought, but her heart was pounding. She felt like she was constantly testing the boundaries of wrongdoing. It was like a seed that had been planted for more than ten years, struggling to sprout from the cracks in the rock, and then growing uncontrollably.