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

Chapter 28: Lingering Echoes

Wen Hupo was leaving.

After the disastrous sports meet, after losing Miss Lu, she was leaving, departing with nothing, just as she had arrived with nothing. Learning this news, Lu Li became withdrawn and quiet. He was thinking.

Every morning, the first thing he did wasn’t to wake up the sleepy An Baili, or to wash up, but to sit on his bed, thinking about what he should do.

Should he try to keep Wen Hupo from leaving? In what capacity?

Before visiting Wen Hupo, he would have denied it without hesitation. Back then, he had chosen to accept her decision, to respect her choice. He never had the right to interfere with the golden-haired angel’s life.

But Wen Hupo’s words that day were deeply etched in his mind, and he couldn’t help but wonder, what were Wen Hupo’s true feelings for him in his past life?

If it was friendship, then why did she send him those meaningful blank letters without fail? And the reason she gave for their separation didn’t make sense. If it wasn’t friendship, then was it… love? Unrequited love, leading her to cut ties, yet still sending him blank letters because she couldn’t let go? This would explain everything, but…

Lu Li rubbed his temples.

But was he just being delusional again? Wen Hupo always had that indifferent demeanor, making it difficult to read her emotions. Would she really like him? The person he had a crush on also had a crush on him? Was he that lucky?

Whenever he doubted himself, he would remember what An Baili had said, that in the uneventful first life, he and Wen Hupo naturally ended up together. This seemed to confirm something.

Even if Wen Hupo had loved him in his past life, what about this life? Did she still harbor those feelings?

Lu Li ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. He had never felt so conflicted and hesitant. He could make quick decisions when dealing with other relationships, but with Wen Hupo, he was always uncertain and indecisive, losing his usual composure.

Time continued to slip away. He, An Baili, and Chu Jingyi still went to school, ate together, hung out after school, and even had dinner at the Chu family’s on weekends. But behind this ordinary routine was a ticking clock. Wen Hupo was becoming more and more like a ghost, only appearing in the activity classroom in the morning, then leaving in the afternoon. She said she was looking for Miss Lu, but whenever someone asked who Miss Lu was, she never answered.

Whenever he chatted with the girls, Lu Li would often zone out. He was still thinking about that question: should he try to convince Wen Hupo to stay, and could he even succeed?

He didn’t know, but his hesitation was noticed by both An Baili and Chu Jingyi.

One day, An Baili and Chu Jingyi stayed at school to take care of some things. Lu Li went home alone, a rare occurrence. Instead of taking the bus, he walked to the Jinjiang Bridge, looking out at the river, the wind blowing against his face.

A drunken man stumbled towards him. Seeing Lu Li standing by the railing, lost in thought, he shouted, “Young man, don’t do anything rash, don’t do anything rash.” He tried to grab Lu Li’s hand, but he was too drunk and missed. The drunkard collapsed beside Lu Li, still mumbling, “Don’t throw your life away for a woman, young man…”

Lu Li chuckled wryly. “I’m just enjoying the view.”

The man sat up, swaying, and leaned against the railing. “Aren’t you going to jump? I, I thought—hic—I thought you were going to jump. Every year, there are a few young people who jump from this bridge. Splash. Then the police have to borrow a fishing boat to retrieve the bodies, two bloated corpses—hic—I’ve seen it many times! Many times!”

Seeing that Lu Li didn’t respond, the drunkard, emboldened by the alcohol, continued, “Young man, at your age, don’t take love too seriously. Life is long, making money is what matters.” He struggled to his feet and stumbled away, mumbling something Lu Li couldn’t quite hear.

So drunk, with no one to take care of him, you should be the one feeling sad, mister. Lu Li shook his head. But he was right. Every year, many heartbroken young people jumped from the Jinjiang Bridge, like characters in a martial arts novel, ending their sorrows with a single leap, so carefree. But they didn’t know the endless grief they left behind for their loved ones, especially their parents, who had spent over twenty years raising them, only to spend decades trying to heal from the unbearable pain of losing a child. And all this for someone who never cared about them, how ridiculous was that?

Lu Li placed his hand on the cold railing and remained silent.

He took out his phone, opened WeChat, and found Wen Hupo’s contact, the one with the default profile picture. He was the one who helped her register the account. Her only contact was him. He pressed the video call button and waited, trying to gather his scattered thoughts.

The ringing tone seemed to stretch on forever.

The call connected, but there was no sound on the other end.

“Is this Wen Hupo?” Lu Li asked.

A familiar, ethereal voice came. “Yes, it’s me. Is something the matter?”

“Do you have to go back? Can’t you stay?”

“…”

After a long silence, Wen Hupo said, “I can’t…” The last word was drawn out, as if she was also struggling.

“Then… okay, let’s keep in touch.”

“Okay.”

The call ended.

Lu Li looked at his own reflection in the dark phone screen and couldn’t help but mock himself. “Why are you so useless? Why are you so timid in front of Wen Hupo, like a little kitten? Did Miss Lu possess you or something?”

Back in the villa, after ending the call with Lu Li, Wen Hupo received another call, from her father, Mr. Diplomat.

“Good afternoon, my lady, haha, well, it’s not really afternoon anymore. Have you had dinner? If not, I’ll have the driver pick you up and we can have dinner together at the embassy.”

“I’ve already eaten.” She hadn’t. She had been busy looking for the cat and hadn’t had dinner yet.

Mr. Diplomat didn’t press the matter and said with a smile, “That’s a pity. My lady, I’m calling to inform you that I’ve booked our flight for June 6th. Well, to be honest, it’s not an auspicious date, but we’ve wasted enough time already, and we need to return to the Amber family as soon as possible. Have you completed the school withdrawal procedures?”

“Yes, everything is done. I can withdraw anytime.” Wen Hupo’s expression remained unchanged.

“Excellent! You’re a model for the Amber family! If only your brothers were as efficient as you.”

Actually, Wen Hupo had never met her brothers, or rather, no one wanted to meet her. A stray illegitimate daughter, her only purpose was to secure a small share of the inheritance for her father. No one cared who she was, they just needed to know she existed.

“I remember you like pandas? It’s a pity I can’t get you a real panda from China, but I can buy you a giant panda plush toy as a farewell gift.” Mr. Diplomat continued to ramble. He actually misremembered. Wen Hupo didn’t like pandas, it was one of her sisters, a short and outspoken girl, who liked them. He had never truly cared about his illegitimate daughter.

“Thank you. I’ll pack my luggage as soon as possible.”

“Good, then I’ll see you at the airport. Do you need me to send the driver to pick you up?”

“No, I can get there myself.”

“Okay.”

He hung up abruptly, without hesitation.

The little maid finally dared to speak. “Um, Miss, do you need help packing?”

“No, I only have one suitcase.” Wen Hupo returned to her room and closed the door.

Chapter 27: Remnants

Miss Lu’s disappearance changed nothing. Perhaps because she was just an ordinary stray kitten. Half a month had passed since the posters went up, and Wen Hupo hadn’t received a single response. After that day, she returned to school, but she no longer sat next to Lu Li. Instead, she continued to seclude herself in the activity classroom, painting with steady, almost mechanical strokes. Lu Li had looked for her a few times, but there was always an unspoken distance between them now. Their conversations would end after just a few exchanges.

May 17th was Chu Jingyi’s birthday. Coincidentally, May 18th was Wen Hupo’s birthday. However, not many people knew about Wen Hupo’s birthday. Lu Li was one of them, having learned about it from Wen Hupo herself in his past life.

Silly Goose’s birthday was a grand affair. Lu Li didn’t have to lift a finger. Her classmates had already decorated the classroom and prepared a birthday celebration. Even the principal came to offer his congratulations. The small gifts that Lu Li and An Baili prepared seemed insignificant compared to the expensive presents from the others. The student council even hung a banner in the teaching building: “Happy 17th Birthday to Miss Chu Jingyi, the Chu Family’s Precious Daughter!” It was a bit over the top, but this was the reality of Shenzhou.

Wen Hupo also attended the party. She stood alone on the outskirts of the crowd, no one greeting her, no one guiding her. She held a gift box in her hand, unsure where to go. When Lu Li approached her, Wen Hupo visibly relaxed.

“You can give the gift to me, I’ll pass it on to Jingyi.” Lu Li took the small, light gift box from Wen Hupo. It felt like it contained jewelry. “It’s quite lively, isn’t it? I can’t even squeeze through the crowd. Look, Jingyi’s face is stiff from smiling.”

“She’s a lucky girl,” Wen Hupo commented simply.

“Perhaps not as lucky as you think.” Lu Li was referring to Silly Goose’s fate in his past life. “She represents what we call ‘a beauty’s short life’ in Chinese, perhaps even heaven couldn’t stand to see such a beloved girl suffer,” he thought. “You can just leave the gift and go. Why are you standing here like you’re being punished?”

“This is my first time giving someone a birthday gift.” Wen Hupo smiled, a genuine smile of contentment.

“Have you ever received a birthday gift?”

“I don’t celebrate birthdays.”

A familiar answer. Lu Li saw a reflection of himself in her. No, he saw a reflection of her in himself. Everyone wanted to celebrate their birthday, but to avoid the loneliness of no one caring, they would just pretend they didn’t celebrate birthdays.

“When is your birthday?” Lu Li already knew, but he still asked.

“I don’t celebrate birthdays.” Wen Hupo glanced at him. “I’ve even forgotten when my birthday is.”

That’s a lie. Lu Li thought. No one forgets their own birthday.

He saw Silly Goose waving at him from the crowd. The silly girl was truly enjoying the lively birthday celebration.

“I’ll be going then.” Seeing this, Wen Hupo whispered and quietly slipped away, like a ghost.

Birthday. Of course she celebrated birthdays. She had even received a birthday gift, the palette knife from her adoptive parents, which she still kept. But she didn’t like celebrating her birthday. This special day only highlighted the loneliness and emptiness of her life.

Since arriving in China, she hadn’t told anyone about her birthday, not even the little maid who took care of her.

May 18th. Wen Hupo woke up in her soft, large bed. The shy and introverted maid, as usual, prepared a glass of warm milk and two fried eggs for her. It was Friday, but she wasn’t going to school. Sleeping in for an extra ten minutes would be her birthday present to herself.

The maid, Xiaowen, was still busy bustling around. Wen Hupo watched her with her light-colored eyes. Xiaowen was a clumsy maid, always breaking things, either a porcelain bowl or something from a shelf, sometimes even spilling milk or butter everywhere. Wen Hupo was always curious about what Xiaowen did all day. They were the only two people living in this villa. Besides the daily cleaning, there shouldn’t be any other strenuous tasks.

If she told Xiaowen that today was her birthday, she would probably become even more anxious and busy, wouldn’t she? It was better not to say anything.

Wen Hupo took a bite of the fried egg. Hmm, the yolk was runny, just how she liked it. Xiaowen’s cooking wasn’t bad, at least.

For some reason, she suddenly thought of Chu Jingyi. What did she have for breakfast on her birthday yesterday? Many people must have sent her “Happy Birthday” messages early in the morning, and perhaps Lu Li was one of them. Thinking of this, Wen Hupo’s mood soured. She checked her phone. The only unread message was from the nearby supermarket, reminding her that she could redeem her membership points for an inflatable swimming pool.

“Miss…” The little maid suddenly called out. “I’m sorry, I almost forgot…”

A flicker of something appeared in Wen Hupo’s eyes, then quickly vanished.

“Mrs. Wu next door invited you to her tea party this Saturday.”

“I’m not going.” What could a group of well-dressed, carefree housewives possibly talk about?

The little maid let out a disappointed “oh.” She had actually received a small tip from Mrs. Wu to extend the invitation to Wen Hupo. She also knew that Miss Shirley rarely socialized, except… except for that boy last time. Was he someone Miss Shirley liked? He didn’t look particularly impressive…

Ding-dong. The doorbell rang. The little maid quickly put down the rag she was holding and rushed to the door. A moment later, she returned with a package. “Miss, there’s a package for you.”

A package for me? Was it from Mr. Diplomat? He was the only one in China who knew about her birthday.

Wen Hupo saw the sender’s name on the package: “Chuanhai City’s Outstanding Young Man Representative.” Her heart tightened inexplicably, a mixture of anticipation and fear. She hoped the package was from a certain someone, but she was also afraid that it wasn’t what she expected.

She cut open the package. Inside was a gift box with a small card attached to the ribbon:

“Happy Birthday.”

Wen Hupo’s eyes suddenly welled up, and she chuckled. “How did he know?” Tears streamed down her face as she laughed.

She opened the gift box. Inside was a custom-made glass trophy, the same style as the ones awarded at the sports meet. But the inscription on this trophy was different: “Best Teamwork Award: Wen Hupo / Shirley Amber.”

Her nose tingled, and she wiped away her tears, a smile still lingering on her face. “He’s so narcissistic. Who wants to have teamwork with him…” She felt that with this birthday gift, her trip to China had found its perfect ending.

She held the trophy close, carefully and preciously.

Chapter 26: A Failed Life

“I’m leaving.”

Leaving? Going where? Lu Li’s mind wandered. Everyone had to leave eventually, from childhood to adulthood, from life to death, from boundless romance to silent indifference. This was the inevitable path of humanity, and all anyone could do was delay the inevitable decline.

His hands continued working, but his thoughts drifted far away. He wondered if Miss Lu would go to human heaven or cat heaven. He thought about how to comfort Wen Hupo and tell her not to worry about the sports meet. He wondered if he should tell Baili to stop practicing cooking.

“I’m going back to my country. I probably won’t be coming back.” After saying these words, Wen Hupo felt as if she had struck herself a heavy blow, abandoning a certain self-important pride. She had thought that telling Lu Li the truth would be like begging for his pity, but now it seemed that it wasn’t such a big deal. She was starting to understand Lu Li. Only by letting go of unnecessary morality and vanity could a person truly soar freely like a bird in the sky.

Lu Li’s hands stopped working, his swirling thoughts freezing.

“What?”

Three seconds later, understanding dawned on him. He suddenly understood why Wen Hupo had been acting so strangely for the past month, why she was so desperate to win at the sports meet, why she held his hand on the roller coaster. Everything made sense now. There was no such thing as love or hate without reason in this world.

“But why?” His voice was a bit loud. “Why so suddenly? It wasn’t like this…” His words were disjointed and illogical. In his past life, Wen Hupo had lived in China for over ten years. If they hadn’t broken up, she might have even grown old here.

Wen Hupo’s deep, unfathomable eyes gazed at Lu Li. “…Will you miss me?”

But she didn’t give him time to answer, quickly adding, “In any case, I’ll be leaving by June at the latest.”

Lu Li was overwhelmed by the suddenness of her departure. He was terrified of losing someone permanently. Ever since Sister Yameng’s death in his past life, Lu Li had been extremely sensitive about this. He didn’t want to lose anyone, no matter the cost.

Seeing Lu Li’s silence, Wen Hupo lowered her eyelids, hiding her emotions. “Lu Li, have I ever told you that my life is actually a failure?”

“…”

“I was born in a small town in the southern United States.” Her voice was unusually gentle. “From the day I was born, I thought I was an ordinary girl from an ordinary family. When I was in elementary school, I once forgot to bring the materials for science class. The teacher said I was stupid. I still remember those words to this day.”

“Since then, I became obsessed with studying. I didn’t want to be called stupid again. I started learning how to appear intelligent, how to think critically. In my spare time, I tried painting. From then on, I never made any friends and never attended any social gatherings. They all called me a nerd.”

“Then one day, my parents called me in and told me that I was the granddaughter of the Amber family. My adoptive father was just the family chauffeur. He adopted me at the behest of a certain gentleman.” She laughed. “Doesn’t it sound like a play from the Renaissance era?”

“When I arrived at the Amber family, I was like a wild animal entering human territory, clueless and lost. I didn’t recognize the car brands, I didn’t understand their conversations, and I didn’t know a single person. When I first arrived at the castle, I was so afraid of getting lost that I didn’t even dare to go to the bathroom alone.” Her voice was tinged with sadness. “I lived a numb and repetitive life, like a walking corpse, not knowing the meaning of my existence. Marriage and children, things ordinary people took for granted, felt as distant as another planet. Lu Li, you must understand how I felt, right?”

Of course, he understood. Lu Li remained silent. Everyone had a moment of awakening in their lives, a moment when they realized the truth of the world, and then they either gave up, conformed, or struggled until they were consumed. He had similar thoughts, but he met An Baili, someone who gave meaning to his life.

“For me, this time in China has actually been the happiest time of my life.” The ordinary days that were mundane to others were Wen Hupo’s rare moments of joy. It was difficult to imagine what kind of life she lived on the other side of the ocean. “I wanted to experience a brief and perhaps false life as a normal girl in these last two months. To fall in love with someone I connect with, to participate in a sports meet, to win a trophy, to have a grand farewell dinner with friends, to raise a cat, and then to wave goodbye gracefully.”

But unfortunately, none of those wishes came true. Lu Li lowered his head. “I’m sorry.”

“You don’t have to apologize, you’ve been good enough to me.” Wen Hupo shook her head.

She continued putting up the posters. “Help me one last time, find Miss Lu, okay?”

“We’ll definitely find her.” Lu Li didn’t say that Miss Lu might already be dead. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” If Wen Hupo had told him earlier, he would have done everything he could to help her.

“That would be like holding you hostage.” Wen Hupo didn’t even turn her head. “You shouldn’t have to pay the price for my dreams. Besides, you’re already the boyfriend of two wonderful girls, aren’t you?”

Lu Li’s chest tightened. He felt a knot of emotions he couldn’t untangle.

Before they knew it, they had put up all the posters, and the paste in the bucket had dried up.

“Lu Li, I’m not telling you this to gain your sympathy.” She carried the bucket and walked ahead, not looking back, leaving only a cascade of golden hair in the boy’s sight. “I just wanted to let you know, just to tell you.”

The sun slowly set, the orange glow of dusk bathing the ground, the utility poles, and the “Lost Cat” posters on the walls.

Lu Li didn’t know how to respond. His heart was in turmoil. He rarely felt this conflicted anymore. In the end, he could only say dryly, “Don’t worry, Miss Lu will definitely come back.”

“…” Wen Hupo paused. “Yes.”

Lu Li looked towards the end of the road, the warm glow of dusk like a lotus flower blooming in the distance. He wished that the little cat with mottled fur would appear right now, so he could pick it up and say to Wen Hupo with his usual smile, “See, I told you she would come back.”

But he didn’t see the kitten, not even after he left the neighborhood.

Chapter 25: I’m Leaving

The A4 paper smelled of ink. Lu Li remembered that the pirated books sold in the bookstore outside the school smelled like this, a mixture of the woody scent of paper and the pungent odor of cheap ink. The words on the “Lost Cat” poster were handwritten, the handwriting messy and uneven, more like English cursive than Chinese characters.

“Beloved cat lost near the intersection of Tanyang Road. Please contact XXXX if you have any information. A reward will be given for any useful information, and a generous reward for finding the cat!”

“You wrote this yourself?” Lu Li dipped the brush in paste and applied it to the wall.

“Yes.” Wen Hupo frowned, her nose twitching. “My nose is itchy.”

“Just scratch it.”

“My hands are covered in paste.”

Hearing this, Lu Li looked down at his fifty-eight-yuan t-shirt, wiped his hands on the hem of his shirt, and said, “Let me rub it for you.” “Okay.” Wen Hupo didn’t refuse, tilting her head towards him like a young wife waiting for a kiss.

Lu Li gently rubbed her nose. It felt cool to the touch. “Is it still itchy?”

“A little. Rub it a bit more.” Wen Hupo’s tone was casual, seemingly not minding the physical contact.

Girls were always like that. The slightest bit of closeness, and men would start to overthink, falling into a delusional fantasy. Does she like me? Once this thought arose, they had already lost the game of love.

Lu Li looked at her delicate face, so close to his, and felt the atmosphere grow awkward. He found a random topic to talk about. “Why haven’t you been to school?”

“…I was too heartbroken.” Perhaps because they were alone, hidden from the sun by the tall walls, the shadows offering a sense of security, she chose to tell the truth. “I lost so badly, I didn’t know how to face everyone. And I realized that I’m actually not that special.”

“I thought you didn’t care about what others think.” Lu Li said half-jokingly.

“How could I not? As a human being, living in a social environment, how can I not care about what others think? Even if I don’t say anything, I still feel tormented inside. Every day at school felt like a prison sentence. I dreaded seeing people outside the window pointing at me and saying, ‘Look, that’s Wen Hupo.’”

Her tone was filled with sadness, lacking her usual aloofness, a rare display of genuine emotion.

“I lost the competition, I lost my cat, and… sigh.” She abruptly stopped, seemingly not wanting to tell Lu Li something.

Prying into someone’s private affairs was a sure way to make them dislike you. Lu Li tactfully didn’t push her, changing the subject instead. “You can do something to relieve your stress. Besides painting, you can sing, or something…”

“I’ve been doing that.” Wen Hupo shook her head. “Okay, that’s enough, my nose isn’t itchy anymore.”

“Oh, okay.”

“I’ve been writing letters.”

“To whom?”

“I don’t know. I usually just burn them after writing.” Wen Hupo glanced at Lu Li. “If it’s just ordinary worries, I write down my true feelings, then read them again the next day. I would realize how ridiculous I was being and then burn the letter, like burning it for my yesterday self.”

You’re so romantic, burning letters for your yesterday self. Lu Li chuckled silently.

“But if it’s something I can’t solve, something I can’t even understand myself, I can’t write anything on the paper. The next day, when I wake up and see the blank paper, yesterday’s worries would resurface, and I would send the letter.” Wen Hupo was unusually emotional, saying things she normally wouldn’t.

Lu Li’s senses sharpened, and he asked casually, “Send it to whom?”

“To whoever I’m worried about.” Wen Hupo smiled, as if recalling something amusing. “I’ve sent three blank letters. One to my biological father, one to my etiquette teacher, and one to my future self. Mr. Diplomat is so materialistic. I was afraid of him when I first arrived at the Amber family, so I secretly sent him a blank letter. He thought it was a threat and didn’t leave the house for a month.”

He didn’t sound like a responsible man. Lu Li had met Wen Hupo’s biological father a few times in his past life and thought he was just a pompous businessman who looked down on him.

“The etiquette teacher was snobbish and mean, always mocking me, so I sent her a blank letter too. She thought it was from her deceased husband, and she started wearing a cross pendant to class every day.” Wen Hupo’s smile was faint but genuine. “The last blank letter, I sent it to my future self. I don’t know what my future will be like, I just hope that my future self is happy.”

Lu Li listened quietly. After Wen Hupo finished, he asked, “Miss Hupo, under what circumstances would you send blank letters to a specific person every year?”

A strange question. Wen Hupo gave Lu Li a curious look. “Has anyone ever sent you blank letters?”

“Yes. Every year. She was once my best friend. One day, we had a fight over something trivial, and then she left.” Lu Li looked into Wen Hupo’s eyes.

“Lu Li.” Her tone suddenly turned serious. “There’s no such thing as a ‘trivial’ matter that would cause two people to part ways. It’s more likely that she had been enduring something for a long time, until one day, she couldn’t take it anymore and chose to leave. And the reason she sent you blank letters was probably because she had something to say to you, but she couldn’t, due to pride or some other reason. So she could only maintain contact with you this way.”

Lu Li’s mind went blank. He chuckled dryly. “Really? I thought she was mocking me… haha…”

Wen Hupo continued putting up the posters. “The medium of social interaction is our senses. Smell, touch, sight, hearing, these are the forms of social interaction. Even if a person dies, as long as they arrange for the post office to send gifts and greeting cards to their loved ones regularly, awakening their sense of taste with freshly baked cookies, caressing their minds with words, then they are still alive in their hearts. Your friend must have thought the same way. She sent you blank letters every year, perhaps because she didn’t want you to forget her.”

“…”

“Did you ever look for your friend?”

Lu Li’s throat felt dry. “No.” Yes, why didn’t he? Why didn’t he look for Wen Hupo back then? He was like a kite, tethered to the girl holding the string, but the one holding the string wasn’t Shirley Amber.

“That’s a pity.” Wen Hupo seemed to have glimpsed into Lu Li’s heart and was strangely excited. “Your friend must be very sad. Was she your elementary school classmate?”

“…Yes.”

After a hesitant “yes,” they fell silent, continuing to paste the posters. For a while, the only sound in the alley was the rustling of paper.

Suddenly, Wen Hupo said, “I’m leaving.”

Chapter 24: Lost Miss Lu

Summer always arrived unexpectedly. After a long rainy season, Chuanhai bid farewell to spring, a girl adorned with flowers, and welcomed summer, a boy with fiery enthusiasm. Summer in Lu Li’s memory was always intertwined with the chirping of cicadas, rubber hoses, and rusty metal faucets.

At the end of April, the sun was scorching, its golden rays seemingly burning into his skin. Lu Li heard that in northern China, the sun was harsh and unforgiving. Without protection, your skin would peel and blister. The commotion caused by the sports meet had gradually subsided, and Lu Li had heard enough of the gossip and speculations about Wen Hupo.

Wen Hupo was always the center of attention at school. People speculated that she participated in the sports meet to get revenge on Class 1 of the second-year liberal arts program. Others said she was born with a disability and wanted to prove herself. As for her true intentions, no one knew, because she hadn’t been to school for a long time, as if she had dropped out.

One day at the end of April, Lu Li went to Wen Hupo’s villa alone, ostensibly to visit her on behalf of the class. He carried a basket of fruit, a gift from his classmates, with a card at the bottom containing a handwritten message from Silly Goose.

He rang the doorbell, and soon, a small maid with freckles appeared. The maid looked very young, perhaps the same age as Lu Li? Her demeanor was timid, and it was clear that she came from a poor family. It might be disrespectful to say so, but a person’s appearance and behavior did reflect their family background.

“Hello, are you… Miss Shirley’s classmate?” The little maid was surprised.

“You know me?” Lu Li was puzzled.

“Yes. Miss Shirley often mentions you.” The little maid unlatched the chain on the gate and opened the door for him. “Please come in.”

Lu Li entered the luxurious villa and sat down on a European-style sofa under the maid’s guidance. “Miss went out an hour ago. What kind of tea would you like? We have…”

“Don’t trouble yourself.” Lu Li handed her the fruit basket. “I’ll just wait for her here.” It was considered impolite. If the host wasn’t home, the guest should visit another day. The little maid thought to herself.

“Where did she go?”

“The family cat went missing yesterday. Miss went to look for it.”

The cat? Lu Li suddenly remembered the stray kitten they had found together almost a month ago. Did she really take that little kitten home? And why would such a tiny kitten, barely able to walk steadily, get lost?

As he was talking to the maid, he suddenly heard hurried footsteps coming from outside. He recognized them as Wen Hupo’s, quick but light, decisive yet hesitant. Wen Hupo pushed open the door with a worried expression, still talking. “Xiaowen, prepare the ‘Lost Cat’ posters, we’ll go put them up this afternoon…”

She suddenly saw Lu Li sitting on the sofa. Her eyebrows furrowed, then relaxed. After a moment of silence, as if gathering her thoughts, she finally said, her tone slightly displeased, “What are you doing here?” So, from “Outstanding Representative” to “Lu Li,” and now to “you.”

“You haven’t been to school for a long time. Everyone is worried about you.” Lu Li stood up.

“They are worried about me, are you worried?” Wen Hupo suddenly asked.

Lu Li’s heart skipped a beat. He forced a smile. “Of course I’m worried too.” Since the amusement park incident, he had become increasingly uncomfortable around Wen Hupo, as if their relationship was filled with thorns. Every word he said seemed wrong, and the more he wanted something, the less likely he was to get it. This awkward atmosphere made him uneasy.

“Xiaowen, go print the posters. I’ll talk to my classmate for a bit.” Wen Hupo’s tone, when giving orders, was quite like that of an aristocrat.

She deliberately sat across from Lu Li, keeping a distance, poured herself a cup of tea, and didn’t speak.

The best way to start a conversation with a girl was to find a common topic, and it couldn’t be something like astronomy, geography, cars, guns, or sports. So Lu Li decided to start with the cat. “Did the cat get lost? The kitten you brought home a month ago, the one with the mottled fur?”

“Her name is Lu Li.” Wen Hupo took a sip of tea, her expression unchanged. “She’s a lady, not a ‘thing.’”

Lu Li almost dropped his teacup. “What a coincidence, the same pronunciation as my name.”

A playful glint flashed in Wen Hupo’s eyes, adding a touch of life to her usually indifferent face. “It is quite a coincidence.”

“How did Miss Lu get lost?” Lu Li gestured. “She was so small, she couldn’t even climb down the stairs, right?”

Wen Hupo looked a bit guilty. “I thought it was pitiful for her to be cooped up in a small room all the time, so I wanted to take her for a walk outside. When we were crossing an intersection, a car honked, and she jumped out of my arms. I couldn’t find her after that.”

She’s probably dead. Lu Li thought to himself.

“Xiaowen said that stray cats can never be truly tamed. Lu Li wasn’t scared away, she planned to leave all along. Is that true?” Wen Hupo put down her teacup and looked at Lu Li intently. At first, Lu Li didn’t realize if she was talking about the cat or a person.

“That’s not true. Abandoned cats cherish having a home even more.”

Lu Li’s words echoed in Wen Hupo’s mind. After a long while, she looked at Lu Li as if she had realized something. “But if I have a new kitten now and I don’t want her anymore, wouldn’t she be homeless again?”

“You’re not that heartless, are you?”

“Sometimes, people don’t realize how heartless they are.” Wen Hupo chuckled self-deprecatingly. Lu Li felt like there was a hidden meaning in her words.

Lu Li stood up. “I’ll help you put up the ‘Lost Cat’ posters and look for her. In return, you have to come back to school next month. My seat is always empty, and I can’t even sleep in class without worrying.”

Wen Hupo’s expression remained unchanged. “Don’t you have Jingyi to look after you? And if not her, there’s also that little girl An Baili…”

An Baili wasn’t a little girl, she was much more mature than you, at least in terms of age.

In the end, Lu Li and Wen Hupo left the wealthy district, each carrying a stack of A4 paper, and joined the shady street vendors putting up posters on the walls. The vendors were advertising locksmith services, aphrodisiacs, ID card recycling, and interest-free loans. Lu Li and Wen Hupo’s “Lost Cat” posters looked out of place among them.

Wen Hupo was very meticulous in putting up the posters, her hands covered in dust, her usually pristine boots stained with dirt. She truly wanted to find Lu Li… the cat.

Lu Li looked at the summer sky, the familiar chirping of cicadas filling his ears. He vaguely remembered how, as a child, he and Sister Yameng used to put up small advertisements on walls and then be chased by the sanitation workers.

Chapter 23: Full Stop

Lu Li’s left leg and Wen Hupo’s right leg were tied together. His calf was noticeably larger than hers, making them look quite mismatched. Most of the other three-legged race participants were paired with partners of similar build. He and Wen Hupo were the most conspicuous, due to their size difference. Wen Hupo seemed so slender and fragile.

A minute before the race, Lu Li’s mind was still wandering. He wasn’t really thinking about the competition. He still couldn’t empathize with Wen Hupo, understand why she cared so much about winning such a trivial sports meet. Shouldn’t a girl like Wen Hupo have broader horizons?

As Lu Li hesitated, the race began.

As he had expected, he and Wen Hupo were surprisingly in sync. Without any practice, they easily synchronized their steps, leaving the others far behind.

Wen Hupo was overjoyed. Panting, she said, “Lu Li, we can win!”

“Don’t talk while you’re running.” Lu Li reminded her, then his gaze drifted towards the stands. The audience was a sea of faces, impossible to distinguish. It was strange how Wen Hupo always managed to pinpoint his location in the crowd. He, on the other hand, couldn’t even find Silly Goose and An Baili.

“They’re catching up…”

The other students weren’t slouches either. This simple event only required a few days of practice to master. Sometimes, natural chemistry wasn’t enough to overcome all obstacles.

Wen Hupo became anxious. She instinctively reached for Lu Li’s hand, but couldn’t reach it. His hands were clasped behind his back, like a proper gentleman, avoiding any intimate contact with her. Wen Hupo had many reasons for wanting to hold his hand: to better coordinate their movements, to prevent herself from falling, or perhaps… But Lu Li only had one reason to refuse. Moreover, his gaze wasn’t on the track, but fixed on the audience.

Realizing this, Wen Hupo’s expression turned numb. She sped up without a word, gradually disrupting their synchronization. Their pace slowed down, and Lu Li had to speed up to keep up with Wen Hupo. But as he sped up, Wen Hupo went even faster, as if deliberately trying to shake him off.

Their movements became increasingly inefficient, and they were quickly overtaken by the other teams.

“Miss Wen Hupo, don’t rush, keep a steady pace!” Lu Li couldn’t help but call out.

He suddenly froze, noticing a flicker of tears in Wen Hupo’s eyes. The bright sunlight, refracted through the tears, created a shimmering halo. The tears didn’t fall, but stubbornly remained in her eyes.

Crying.

This was a word closely associated with An Baili, but distant from Wen Hupo.

An Baili was a crybaby, crying over everything.

But he had never seen Wen Hupo cry in his past life.

The closest she had come to crying was at her adoptive mother’s funeral. That was also the first time Lu Li learned that Wen Hupo wasn’t born with a silver spoon in her mouth, but came from an ordinary family like most people. It was raining that day. Wen Hupo, dressed in black, looked numb and empty, like a soulless puppet. Lu Li stood beside her, holding an umbrella. Various foreigners came up to them, offering condolences in languages he didn’t understand. Lu Li just smiled and nodded in response. Even now, he still didn’t know how the Amber family had come to believe that he and Wen Hupo were in a relationship. Wen Hupo had never explained it. Since then, he received a sum of money from abroad every year, until Wen Hupo left.

Lu Li sometimes wondered, if fate had taken a different course, would he and Wen Hupo have been a match made in heaven?

A sudden thought, like an electric shock, ran through his mind. If he had such thoughts, would Wen Hupo, who always seemed to be on the same wavelength as him, have similar thoughts?

After the first lap, he and Wen Hupo were second to last. Many people noticed Wen Hupo’s red eyes. The PE representative advised her to take a break and let someone else take her place. No one objected. They didn’t trust Wen Hupo, thinking she was just dead weight.

Wen Hupo didn’t agree, nor did she refuse. In the end, it was Silly Goose who stepped in and asked An Baili to replace Wen Hupo, completing the remaining two laps with Lu Li.

With An Baili as his partner, their speed increased significantly. They stumbled a bit at first, but their coordination improved with each step. By the middle of the lap, they were jogging smoothly. During the last lap, Lu Li and An Baili easily overtook the other teams, even managing to sprint as if the tape binding their legs didn’t exist.

The loudest cheers erupted from Class 1 of the second-year liberal arts program. They chanted their names, cheering for the couple who was about to win their class’s first gold medal. Even Silly Goose, her face flushed, was waving a flag and cheering for them in the front row, looking incredibly adorable.

Lu Li smiled, trying to find Wen Hupo with his eyes, wanting to share the joy of victory with her. But the spot where she had been standing was empty, only the lonely spring breeze remained.

Lu Li didn’t see Wen Hupo again after the race.

—

After school, Silly Goose was picked up by a chauffeur sent by the Chu family. Before leaving, she waved goodbye to Lu Li and An Baili reluctantly. Not being able to walk home with her beloved and her best friend because of her sprained ankle was enough to make Silly Goose feel sorry for herself for a long time.

Lu Li and An Baili walked side by side, as if they were back in their university days in his past life. Back then, he would always stroll leisurely with An Baili, holding hands and telling silly jokes.

“Still thinking about Wen Hupo?” An Baili asked with a grin.

“Yes. I think something’s wrong with her. And I haven’t seen her since the three-legged race. Where did she go?” Lu Li still remembered the tears in Wen Hupo’s eyes. He had never seen her cry, it was like seeing a river flow upstream.

“I don’t know. I haven’t seen her either.” An Baili swung Lu Li’s hand back and forth. “Just call her and ask.”

“I don’t have her number.” Only her WeChat. Lu Li felt a pang of sadness. They had known each other for so long, yet he didn’t even have her phone number. Would they lose contact after graduation? Just like ordinary classmates, disappearing into the river of time?

Chapter 22: Empty Frustration

During lunch with the girls, Lu Li was distracted. He kept thinking about what Wen Hupo had said. Keeping things bottled up would only hurt yourself in the end. He glanced at the two pretty girls carefully picking at their rice. “Baili, Jingyi, what do you think is going on with Wen Hupo? Why did she suddenly decide to participate in the sports meet? She said it was to create some memories, but it doesn’t sound convincing, does it?”

Silly Goose’s eyes lit up. “I know~ I know~”

An Baili shoved a spoonful of food into Silly Goose’s mouth. “Jingyi, eat more, you’re too skinny.”

Silly Goose mumbled a few words, then quieted down under An Baili’s warning gaze. Lu Li observed them, realizing that the two girls had formed a united front.

“Baili, do you know something?” Lu Li sat up straighter, his tone more serious.

An Baili nodded, then shook her head. “I know, but I can’t tell you, unless Wen Hupo tells you herself.”

“Is it something serious?”

“Yes, it should be quite serious for her.” The little village girl nodded sagely, and Lu Li couldn’t help but flick her forehead.

“Ouch! That hurts! You’ll make me stupid if you keep doing that!” An Baili covered her forehead, looking wronged. “It’s not me who’s keeping it from you, it’s Wen Hupo who doesn’t want to tell you. Why are you hitting me…”

“Look at that smug look on your face, you’re clearly enjoying this, aren’t you?”

“Hehe.” An Baili giggled and leaned closer to Lu Li. “Wen Hupo is very proud, you should wait for her to tell you herself.”

Seeing that Lu Li was still unhappy, An Baili quickly moved behind him and started massaging his shoulders. “Don’t be mad, I’ll tell you secretly someday. But you have to promise me, don’t do anything rash…”

Lu Li said firmly, “Do I look like the kind of person who acts rashly?”

To his surprise, both An Baili and Chu Jingyi nodded in agreement.

The first event in the afternoon was doubles table tennis. The students of Class 1 of the second-year liberal arts program were listless. So far, their class had placed last or second to last in almost every event. They were almost certainly the worst-performing class in their year. Having lost all hope, they were naturally dispirited.

When Lu Li and Wen Hupo walked onto the court, there wasn’t even a single cheer. Only the PE representative said weakly, “Good luck, it’s the taking part that counts.”

Lu Li looked at Wen Hupo’s profile. The girl’s eyebrows were delicate, her eyes deep, her eyelashes long. The spring breeze made her look even more delicate and beautiful. Wen Hupo, sensing his gaze, turned her head and met his eyes.

Time seemed to rewind briefly. It was like they were back at the amusement park, holding hands; back at the New Year’s Eve party, the prince and princess sharing a kiss; and finally, back to their first encounter – the blonde girl by the window, engrossed in her book, and the boy cleaning the classroom with a bucket and mop.

“Good luck,” she said.

“Yeah, good luck.”

Their first opponents were a boy and a girl from Class 1 of the second-year science program. They seemed to be a couple, their teamwork seamless, their skills impressive. After a few exchanges, the liberal arts class was completely outmatched. Lu Li, panting, held the ping pong ball and looked at Wen Hupo.

Wen Hupo had tied up her precious platinum blonde hair and was nervously watching their opponents, who looked calm and confident. Lu Li saw her hand trembling slightly, golden strands of hair plastered to her flushed cheeks with sweat. She must be very nervous, right?

To be honest, Wen Hupo’s performance far exceeded his expectations. So far, she hadn’t made a single mistake. This alone showed that she had put in a lot of effort after class.

“The paddle…” Wen Hupo’s voice trembled.

“What?”

“Is this… is this the right way to hold it?”

Lu Li froze, looking at her right hand gripping the paddle, her knuckles white with tension.

“Yes.”

Wen Hupo seemed to relax, letting out a breath. She must be under a lot of pressure. She had signed up for seven or eight events, but hadn’t won a single one. Her proud soul must be tormented by the string of failures.

“Can, can we win at least one round? Just one…” Wen Hupo’s voice was almost a plea.

Lu Li’s eyes darkened, and he gave a low hum in response. Since Wen Hupo had asked, he, as her friend, should give it his all. They were just amateur high school players, not even comparable to a single hair on Sister Yameng’s head. As someone who had practiced with Sister Yameng for years, a person reborn with two lifetimes of experience, how could he possibly lose to this young couple?

Fifteen minutes later, the match ended. The liberal arts class was utterly defeated.

The couple from the science class cheered and hugged each other, kissing passionately in celebration, oblivious to everyone around them. On this special occasion, even the disciplinary committee of the student council turned a blind eye.

In contrast to the passionate scene on the other side, the liberal arts class was dead silent. Wen Hupo stared blankly at the paddle in her hand. She hadn’t managed to return a single ball in the second half of the match, her performance getting worse and worse. In the end, she even started doubting herself, worried that she was holding Lu Li back.

Failure was an inevitable part of life. Lu Li had experienced countless failures. It had become as commonplace as eating and drinking. But for Wen Hupo, failure was like the first bite of wasabi in the morning, unexpected and pungent.

The harder you tried to pursue perfection, the less likely you were to achieve it.

Wen Hupo stared at the table tennis table blankly. She didn’t understand why nothing seemed to be going her way lately. Was she destined to be lonely and miserable?

Lu Li didn’t speak, just quietly stood by the blonde angel’s side. He had a hundred ways to cheer her up, but he wouldn’t do that. Because Wen Hupo needed this crushing defeat to wake up. Companionship was more important than words.

He had given his all during the match, but their opponents were cunning. They weren’t a match for Lu Li, so they targeted Wen Hupo instead, constantly attacking her side of the court. This was doubles, after all, not singles.

“Don’t overthink it,” Lu Li said. He felt that Wen Hupo had become fixated on winning, as if she was being chased by something, desperately pursuing something.

“…I can’t…” She lowered her head, her blonde hair falling around her face. “There’s still the three-legged race, the last three-legged race. Lu Li, we have to win something!”

Her life was like a second-rate tragedy directed by a fourth-rate director with a third-rate script, boring and uneventful. These days in China were some of the few happy days in her life. No pressure, no worries, lovely friends, and a boy she connected with on a deeper level. She didn’t want this precious experience to end with a string of failures… A crushing, unforgettable defeat.

Chapter 21: Hollow Frustration

Someone from the team called out, “Lu Li, you’re taking the Class Monitor’s place for the fourth leg, right? Should be no problem, right?” His tone was polite. It seemed that Silly Goose had already informed them. Lu Li agreed and saw the relay team members from Class 1 of the second-year liberal arts program line up.

As he took his position on the track, the noisy cheers from the stands seemed to fade away, the crowd shrinking into colorful dots. The only sound he could hear was the whistling wind. So this was the track, the view that Sister Yameng saw? Lu Li pondered.

This was the first time Lu Li had participated in a sports meet.

He remembered back in 2008, huddled with Sister Yameng in front of their old boxy TV, holding miniature Chinese flags, cheering for the Chinese team. His world was so simple back then. A small room less than twenty square meters, an old TV with a constantly flickering signal, and a loving sister. It felt like he had everything.

A faint sense of detachment washed over him. The more he reminisced about the past, the greater the disparity between the world and his ideals seemed to be.

Perhaps only the warmth of a girl’s body could offer solace in this cold and indifferent world.

He heard the whistle blow, signaling the start of the relay race. Four figures sprang forward from the other end of the track, their expressions unreadable, but their running forms full of power. Lu Li looked towards Wen Hupo, two hundred meters away. It seemed that not just Wen Hupo, but everyone yearned for victory. He, Lu Li, was the strange one, wasn’t he?

Wen Hupo’s eyes weren’t on Lu Li. She was nervously watching the first runner, her small fists clenching as she noticed them falling behind. She was watching the race, and Lu Li was watching her. A woman’s most beautiful moment wasn’t when she was being seductive or flirtatious, but when her eyes shone with unwavering determination.

The first runner from Class 1 of the second-year liberal arts program was about a second behind the third place runner. The second runner grabbed the baton and sprinted forward with reckless abandon, his eyes closed. Thanks to his desperate effort, the third runner from their class was finally able to start at the same time as the third-place runner.

Unfortunately, their third runner was a delicate girl, her stamina no match for the sturdy boy from the science class next door. She was clearly running with all her might, but she still couldn’t keep up with the others. By the second half of the race, her face was flushed, and she was muttering, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”

Lu Li took the baton and said with a smile, “You did great.”

Then he accelerated sharply, sprinting towards the finish line two hundred meters away. The girl, surprised by Lu Li’s comforting words, froze in place, at a loss.

Due to certain unspeakable reasons, Lu Li had exceptionally strong legs. His strides were steady and swift. The third-place runner was a bespectacled, nerdy boy, and Lu Li quickly overtook him. Unfortunately, the top two runners were both athletes. Lu Li’s casual “training” couldn’t compare to their rigorous regime. The goal for Class 1 of the second-year liberal arts program was clear now: don’t be last.

The last runner was Wen Hupo. When Lu Li passed the baton, his hand brushed against Wen Hupo’s cold hand, almost like holding hands. Wen Hupo recoiled as if shocked, which caused a delay in the baton exchange, and their class fell back into last place again.

Wen Hupo also realized her mistake. She glanced at Lu Li, then grabbed the baton and started running without a word.

Lu Li watched her retreating figure, speechless. Wen Hupo wasn’t the type of girl who would overreact to a little accidental physical contact. She was always calm and composed, like a white lotus on a snowy mountain. Then what was with her reaction just now? Wasn’t that something only Silly Goose would do? No, even Silly Goose wouldn’t be shy about holding hands anymore.

In the end, Class 1 of the second-year liberal arts program came in last, not even receiving a consolation prize.

“It’s my fault.” Wen Hupo stood beside Lu Li with her arms crossed, her breathing still uneven. “If I hadn’t messed up the last leg, we wouldn’t have been last.”

“You did your best. The outcome of a team event doesn’t depend on any single person, don’t blame yourself.” Lu Li comforted her.

Wen Hupo stared at him for a long time. “Do you always do this with girls?”

“Do what?”

“You did the same thing earlier. When the third runner passed you the baton, what did you say to her? She was about to cry.”

“Just some words of comfort.”

“Don’t you know that it’s easy for them to misunderstand?” Wen Hupo suddenly became agitated. “Or are you doing this on purpose, to make them misunderstand?”

Lu Li held up his hands. “Calm down, calm down. Did I do something to offend you?”

Wen Hupo took a deep breath and looked away. “Someone’s looking for you.”

The girl who ran the third leg pushed through the crowd and approached Lu Li hesitantly. “Um, Lu Li, do you have a moment?”

Someone whistled, the teasing and suggestive meaning clear. Lu Li looked at the pretty girl in front of him, vaguely remembering her self-introduction. She was the daughter of some energy company executive, a lively and optimistic girl at school.

He looked around, hoping for the appearance of Silly Goose or An Baili.

“Um, Lu Li, thank you, your encouragement meant a lot to me.” The girl bowed deeply. “And I’m sorry for saying bad things about you before.”

What bad things did you say about me? Lu Li was puzzled, then shook his head. It didn’t matter, it wasn’t important.

Seeing Lu Li’s lack of reaction, the girl continued, mustering her courage. “Thank you!” Then she hurriedly walked away.

More whistles followed. The girl’s blushing face gradually disappeared into the crowd. Lu Li stood there, frozen, finally understanding the hidden meaning in Wen Hupo’s words.

He turned to look at Wen Hupo, but she was staring at the ground. She said, “We still have the three-legged race and doubles table tennis this afternoon. Lu Li, I want to win, even just once.”

Why did she stop calling me “Outstanding Representative”? Lu Li was speechless.

A girl’s heart was like the spring weather in Chuanhai, sometimes sunny, sometimes rainy. Before Lu Li could respond, he heard shouts from the distance. “Lu—Li—!” It was An Baili, helping Chu Jingyi walk towards him. Wen Hupo turned and left, her platinum blonde hair swaying in the wind, brushing against Lu Li’s nose. She left quietly, without a trace.

Lu Li rubbed his itchy nose and then went to meet the two girls.

Chapter 20: Empty Frustration

The first day of the sports meet ended with everyone harboring their own thoughts. Lu Li had a nagging feeling that perhaps he was the one being kept in the dark. Back at home, An Baili went to cook, while Lu Li sat at his computer, checking the game’s sales figures. Half a month had passed, and Evening Collection had sold over 450,000 copies, far exceeding his expectations. At this rate, the total sales for the game’s lifecycle could reach millions. Evening Collection was still trending on major websites, and Lu Li had even turned down several interview requests from gaming media outlets.

As Lu Li was looking at the sales chart with satisfaction, a gray profile picture popped up. It was “Zhu Xi.”

“Greetings, Mr. Producer. How are you doing?”

Lu Li was in a good mood and replied casually, “Very well. Thanks to you, the game is selling great.”

“Hmm… Mr. Producer, are you busy with anything lately?”

“Why do you ask?”

“You haven’t been online much, your profile has been offline.”

Wen Hupo’s face appeared in Lu Li’s mind, her every expression breathtakingly beautiful. He had been distracted by her lately. Ever since their encounter at the amusement park, he felt like something had shifted in their relationship.

“I have some things on my mind,” Lu Li admitted truthfully. It was strange, but he found that he could share his inner thoughts with this “Zhu Xi” without reservation, thoughts he couldn’t express to the other girls. Perhaps because, subconsciously, he felt that “Zhu Xi,” the “royal family,” was too distant, too unreal for him to feel any pressure.

“I used to like a girl…” Lu Li typed slowly, his thoughts also slow and deliberate. “But I realized that she doesn’t seem to like me.”

“Zhu Xi” was silent for a moment, then replied carefully, “Do you still like her?”

Lu Li shook his head. “I think it’s childish to dwell on ‘like’ and ‘dislike.’ There are more important things in life. But the more I think that way, the more I feel a sense of regret.”

“You still haven’t told me if you like her or not.”

“…A little.”

“Mr. Producer, how old are you this year?”

“Thirty-seven.” Lu Li had wanted to say seventeen, but feeling heartbroken at seventeen seemed too melodramatic and self-absorbed, so he made up a number. He thought he heard “Zhu Xi” chuckle softly, as if she had seen through his lie.

“You still have seventy years to live.” Zhu Xi’s tone was girlish, perhaps deliberately so. “For the first month after your death, everyone will miss you very much. After a year, your friends’ memories of you will become blurred. After ten years, even those important to you will forget the details. After twenty years, most of your generation will be gone, and no one will remember you. After fifty years, all records of you in this world will disappear…”

“Mr. Producer, this is your future.”

Zhu Xi’s words hung on the screen, strangely compelling, giving Lu Li the illusion that she was telling the truth.

“So, Mr. Producer, after a hundred years, no one will care about your regrets, and no one will comfort you.” Her words were polite, but their coldness was chilling. “If you don’t fight for it yourself, no one else will pity you.”

“It sounds like you’re making it up.” Lu Li tried to shake off the feeling of unease.

“It’s true. I can see it.” Zhu Xi sent a cheering emoji. “Seize the day, Mr. Producer!”

Lu Li wanted to say something else, but he suddenly heard a noise from the kitchen. Did An Baili burn the food again? He quickly closed his laptop, only catching a glimpse of “Zhu Xi’s” last message: “June 6th, 10 a.m. …”

June 6th? 10 a.m.?

Lu Li shook his head. He must be losing his mind, actually believing for a moment that “Zhu Xi” could predict the future. If the girl on the other side of the screen could really see the future, then he, Lu Li, could achieve immortality in this life!

Thinking of this, he chuckled at his own absurdity.

Just then, An Baili’s voice came from the kitchen. “Lu Li, Lu Li, come quick, the fish is falling apart!”

“Coming, coming, don’t stir it anymore, just add some water and make it fish soup.”

“How can we do that… Stop it, I’m cooking…”

“Why aren’t you wearing anything under your scarf…”

“Shh…”

The next day. The Chuanhai No. 1 High School sports meet lasted for two and a half days. The first day was for individual events, the second for team events, and half a day for the award ceremony. Encouraged by An Baili, Lu Li changed into his sports attire. He had to admit that even without regular exercise, a young body was still full of energy. As he moved, the muscles in his thighs flexed, and Lu Li felt a sense of vitality.

He saw Silly Goose sitting at the judges’ table in the distance, her head bent over some paperwork.

The sky was clear, the sun was shining, and the cheers and energy of youth filled the sports field.

This was youth.

The relay race was the last event in the morning. The athletes from Class 1 of the second-year liberal arts program were huddled together, discussing their strategy. Wen Hupo stood alone, her arms crossed, staring blankly at the field, looking utterly lonely.

Lu Li composed himself and walked over to her. “Hey.”

Wen Hupo turned around, her eyes lighting up with surprise. “…Hi… What are you doing here? And what are you wearing?”

Lu Li suddenly realized that Wen Hupo hadn’t called him “Outstanding Representative” in a while. A girl’s mind was delicate, and a change in address often signified a change in attitude.

“Jingyi is injured, I’m replacing her.”

The light in Wen Hupo’s eyes dimmed slightly, and she forced a smile. “I see…”

Lu Li felt a complex mix of emotions in her gaze. He told himself not to be delusional. “How have your competitions been going so far?” Wen Hupo had been saying she wanted to achieve something, to leave no regrets in her youth. He wondered how she was doing.

The light in Wen Hupo’s eyes dimmed even further. “Not ideal. I overestimated my athletic abilities…”

Lu Li wasn’t surprised. He had to admit that Wen Hupo was indeed smarter and more perceptive than most of her peers, but this also meant that she was more arrogant and prone to assumptions. In unfamiliar territory, she tended to jump to conclusions, only to fail spectacularly. This wasn’t the first time this had happened. It had also happened once in his past life.

What was it about that time? It seemed like… it was about cooking…

Lu Li rubbed his temples.

Why did Wen Hupo suddenly decide to learn how to cook in his past life? He couldn’t quite remember…

Chapter 19: Are You Hiding Something From Me?

“How is she? Is Jingyi badly hurt?” As soon as they returned to the gymnasium, An Baili asked anxiously. Besides Lu Li, An Baili probably cared about Chu Jingyi the most. That silly and innocent girl had somehow managed to soften An Baili’s “witchy” heart. Lu Li suspected that Silly Goose’s increasing indulgence towards him might have something to do with An Baili’s “instigation.” Girls’ whispered secrets often held more weight than men imagined.

“It’s just a sprained ankle, don’t worry. The school nurse said she just needs a good rest. I’ve already withdrawn her from this afternoon’s competition.” Lu Li instinctively wanted to put his arm around An Baili, but noticing the gazes of the other students, he coughed lightly and refrained. “Let’s go, let’s pack up and go home.” The sports meet was no different from a holiday for Lu Li. If it weren’t for watching Silly Goose’s high jump competition in the morning, he wouldn’t have even bothered coming to the opening ceremony.

An Baili didn’t care about the other students’ gazes. She leaned against Lu Li. “Wen Hupo has a competition this afternoon, aren’t you going to watch?”

Lu Li gently patted her back. “Everyone’s watching.” As someone who had lived two lifetimes, Lu Li knew the power of rumors. People wouldn’t hesitate to use words to destroy what they couldn’t have, especially when it came to women. And once such labels were attached, they might never be removed. They would only condemn An Baili for being indecent and unfaithful, not considering the deep affection between her and Lu Li. They would only revel in their self-righteousness, finding an isolated island and declaring it the center of the world.

This was also the reason why Lu Li hadn’t publicly acknowledged his relationship with Chu Jingyi. Before he became so successful that most people would feel inferior, he wouldn’t let the girls he loved bear the pressure of public opinion.

The labels of “Lu-dog,” “Old Dog,” and “Lu the Pervert”… It was enough for him to bear them alone.

“Let them watch, I just want to be close to you.” An Baili snuggled closer.

Lu Li was touched, he just hummed in response and didn’t say anything more.

“Lu Li.”

“Hmm?”

“You still haven’t answered my question. Are you going to watch Wen Hupo’s competition or not?”

“I don’t think so. Otherwise, a certain jealous girl will get angry again.”

“No way! I’m very open-minded now!” An Baili puffed out her chest, and Lu Li carefully compared. Jingyi’s were definitely bigger than Baili’s by more than a size. “Don’t you think I have the aura of a ‘first wife’ now?”

Lu Li looked her up and down. He didn’t see any “first wife” aura, just the petty jealousy of a small-minded girl.

“You are more dignified than before.” Lu Li was always generous with his compliments to them.

“So, so let’s go watch Wen Hupo’s competition.”

Lu Li said suspiciously, “Baili, why do I feel like you’ve been trying to get me closer to Wen Hupo lately? Are you experiencing some aftereffects of the price? Are you still trying to set us up?”

Baili bit her lip, her eyes tearing up. “Why are you being so mean to me?”

“I’m not being mean…”

“You are!”

“I… Okay…”

“Let’s go watch Wen Hupo’s competition, okay?” She took Lu Li’s hand and swayed it gently.

“Okay, okay, let’s go, let’s go.” Lu Li nodded repeatedly, completely whipped.

This girl’s way of thinking was always strange and unpredictable, with an innate stubbornness. Perhaps it was a result of her lonely childhood… Thinking of this, Lu Li tightened his grip on her hand.

In the afternoon, the badminton players entered the gymnasium one after another. The blonde foreign girl was among them.

Speaking of loneliness, he, Lu Li, was also a lonely person. He disliked crowds, preferred quietness, and loved rainy days – very similar to Wen Hupo. But Wen Hupo wasn’t just lonely, she was aloof, deliberately keeping her distance from others, looking down on the world with disdain. Lu Li wondered, how did he win over Wen Hupo in his past life? Would a woman like her really fall for an ordinary man like him?

Lu Li wasn’t familiar with badminton, but he could tell that Wen Hupo’s grip on the racket was awkward.

When it was Wen Hupo’s turn to play, she unsurprisingly lost her first match. Her clumsy movements drew murmurs from the audience. As Lu Li expected, Wen Hupo was terrible at sports. Among the girls he knew, Zou Yameng was the most athletic, followed by Chen Jianing. That annoying girl, despite her small stature, was surprisingly fast… Then it was Silly Goose and An Baili.

Speaking of which, what was Chen Jianing up to lately?… Why hadn’t she contacted him?… He hadn’t heard her sarcastic remarks in a while and kind of missed them. Should he visit Mulan City during the summer break?

Just as Lu Li’s mind was wandering, a wave of sighs came from the audience.

Wen Hupo had lost another match. Her stiff movements even made some of the girls who were jealous of her secretly laugh.

Lu Li frowned. “What is she doing? Doesn’t she care about her image and reputation? Why is she losing so badly?”

An Baili looked at the solitary figure on the court, then said after a moment of silence, “Because she’s also lost…”

“What?…”

Just as Lu Li spoke, the referee announced that Wen Hupo was eliminated, receiving a consolation prize – a clear humiliation. Wen Hupo wiped the sweat from her neck and walked towards the exit with a blank expression. Suddenly, she seemed to sense something and looked up abruptly, her eyes meeting Lu Li’s.

Lu Li saw it clearly. Wen Hupo instinctively smiled, but the smile only lasted for a fraction of a second. She then quickly suppressed it, her lips turning downwards. But after another moment, she couldn’t contain her smile anymore.

Lu Li and An Baili walked towards her. Wen Hupo’s gaze instinctively fell on their intertwined hands. She stared for a moment, then looked away unnaturally.

“You did your best, you did great,” Lu Li said, trying to comfort her.

“…I wasn’t prepared enough.” Wen Hupo said. “…I still have to prepare for tomorrow’s competition. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going…”

With that, she turned and left as if trying to escape.

Strange.

Not just An Baili, but Wen Hupo too.

Even with his two lifetimes of experience, Lu Li couldn’t understand the complexities of a teenage girl’s heart. Not long ago, she had enthusiastically asked him to practice and compete with her, and now she was suddenly distant, her behavior as unpredictable as a girl in the early stages of a relationship… Hmm? Lu Li felt like he had grasped something, but also nothing at all.

He turned to An Baili. “Are you hiding something from me?”

An Baili’s heart skipped a beat. “No, no, I don’t think so? What could we possibly be hiding from you?”