Chapter 1#

When I was little, everyone said Wang Zheng was my little shadow. Wherever I was, Wang Zheng would be there. But in reality, wherever Wang Zheng went, I would patter along after him.

Wang Zheng walked extremely fast, especially in sixth grade when he suddenly shot up in height—actually, even then I thought what the teacher taught was inaccurate; weren’t boys supposed to develop during middle school?

In elementary school, the way Wang Zheng looked at me, when I think back on it now, really makes me sad.

I don’t know if it was Wang Zheng’s peacock mentality acting up, but he always liked to walk ahead of me, and I had a hard time keeping up from behind. Add to that the fact that I suddenly put on weight when I entered middle school, my round chubby face making anyone who glanced at me—in front of Old Lady Ren, to avoid hurting my self-esteem, though she wouldn’t lie and say I was graceful and handsome, she would always praise me for having a face full of good fortune and being round and adorable. So much so that at the time, I really didn’t think about how terrifying a sight it was, a jade-like youth followed closely by a ball of flesh.

Therefore, I am truly grateful to heaven for giving me a chance to reform.

Since my rebirth, the number of times I’ve crossed paths with Wang Zheng can be counted on one hand. Besides, later on, despite my mother’s fierce glare, I chose to attend an outside public elementary school, and I only went back to the main house during holidays.

I have to say, my life has become much more fulfilling because of this. In my past life, I at least studied abroad and got a master’s degree, and besides, the level of the public elementary school was far below the homework Old Lady Ren assigned. So during my two years of elementary school, I won the annual class Sunflower Award, excelled in everything, graduated as a gifted student, and smoothly moved on to middle school—to be honest, this somewhat made up for my regrets from the previous life.

After all, Wang Zheng was the one who couldn’t stand losing, especially to me. I still remember how in my past life, when Lillian, the French teacher, praised my pronunciation, in the next class, Wang Zheng’s performance was astonishing—his pure Parisian accent was more French than a native French person.

In this life, although I’ve been separated from Wang Zheng from the start, his presence has always been very clear. When Old Lady Ren regularly checked my schoolwork, she would occasionally run into Wang Zheng too, but in this life, we were only nodding acquaintances. Wang Zheng was still exquisitely handsome, his every move showing more aristocratic grace than me, especially when he lifted his chin—a complete peacock, which always gave me a strange sense of relief.

Old Lady Ren was the same as in the previous life; aside from being strict about my upbringing and manners, she wasn’t too demanding in other areas, but she was inevitably a bit harsh on Wang Zheng. If I hadn’t lived those extra thirty years, I would have thought Old Lady Ren was doting on me, but now I understand that her expectations for Wang Zheng were far higher than for me.

So when I said I wanted to go to a public elementary school outside, Old Lady Ren didn’t even blink, but my mother went crazy a few times and slapped me countless times.

Actually, I know my mother had a hard time in the Ren family, but she couldn’t see past it, and I still had lingering fears about how she used to beat me with a belt when I was little. This old bones of mine really couldn’t take much折腾, so in this life, my mother and I still aren’t close.

When I moved out, Old Lady Ren told me to bring someone to take care of me. Without a second thought, I chose Old He—by the way, in this life he was still called Little He, working as a handyman for the Ren family. It wasn’t until later, when I took over the household and Zhang Ma left in a huff over some misunderstanding with me, that Old He stayed with me—thinking about this now, I can’t help but worry.

In my past life, I left too quickly and didn’t have time to settle Old He’s family. I wonder if Wang Zheng, for my sake, would give them a way out. After all, back then, as soon as Wang Zheng took the seat of Ren Corporation’s chairman, he swaggered over to the Ren family main house, but before he could even step through the gate, Old He almost drove him out with a broom.

So, with great enthusiasm, I took Old He—now Little He, who would become Old He twenty years later—out to make our way, but I forgot that Old He’s ancestor was Tang Monk…

“Young Master, don’t say I’m being nosy, but what school you choose is your business, and Madam has no objections, so I shouldn’t say much. But why on earth do you want to board at school?” I was sitting in the back seat while Old He rambled on and on. At a red light, a group of teenagers in the same uniform as mine passed by, but they all looked like they had parrot feathers sticking out of their heads and pockmarked faces, which made Old He tremble with fear.

“Young Master, th-this, th-this, this is…” I raised my fleshy little hand somewhat lazily—alas, with the lesson from my previous life, I had been controlling my diet in this life. I thought I had dodged Wang Zheng, but I still couldn’t avoid the fate of being chubby as a teenager…

The culprit was sitting in the driver’s seat, eyes wide open staring at that group of little delinquents, cold sweat seeping from the hand gripping the steering wheel. I couldn’t help but let out a dry laugh, “Little He, they’re still young. I know how to take care of myself. Relax.”

Old He shot a disdainful glance at those little delinquents and added, “Young Master, it’s precisely because of your temperament that I can’t rest easy. Madam is too careless…” Old He often said I spoke with an air of old age. Maybe it was because I had lived thirty years longer and seen more of the world. After my rebirth, my speech became more languid and less youthful. Even Old Lady Ren, after a few conversations with me, would frown and say—“Why do you seem like a different person since that fever? Learn more from Zheng Zheng; that child has so much energy.”

Old He grumbled a few more words, then the car suddenly jolted. I bounced up in the back seat, and heard Old He say “That’s strange.” He turned the key a few times and restarted the engine several times, but nothing worked. Fortunately, the car was on the side of the road. Old He quickly got out to check, then stuck his head back in and said, “Young Master! The car’s broken down for some reason. This is bad—we won’t make it to the freshman orientation.”

My heart skipped a beat.

To be honest, in my previous life, I attended so-called prestigious schools where they didn’t bother with things like freshman orientations. In this life, I had transferred into elementary school mid-term, so I had never really attended a freshman orientation. I couldn’t help but feel a bit of anticipation. Old He slapped the car window in frustration and said, “Young Master, why don’t I go see if there’s a public phone nearby and call the main house to send someone to pick you up.”

At that time, cell phones weren’t so widespread. Seeing Old He turn to leave, I called out, “Little He!” I didn’t want to trouble Old Lady Ren’s driver. “Little He, it’s fine. It doesn’t look too far. I’ll walk over first. You bring my luggage later.”

Old He looked me up and down.

I suddenly felt a bit hurt. Although I was indeed a bit chubby now… Old He’s gaze only strengthened my resolve.

Under the scorching sun, I walked step by step, the heat making my vision blurry and sweat pouring down like rain. I took out a handkerchief to wipe my face and suddenly thought back to how I used to chase after Wang Zheng’s footsteps, always ending up drenched in sweat. Wang Zheng never stopped or slowed down; he only glanced back at me contemptuously when I kept saying “Wait for me.”

To be honest, Wang Zheng’s face in my mind seemed a bit blurry now.

I could only roughly remember an outline; his back was clearer.

Yeah, in my past life, I could only chase after him. Wang Zheng rarely looked me straight in the eye. The only time we had eye contact, the closest we ever got, was when Wang Zheng held a contract in one hand and grabbed my right hand with the other, whispering softly in my ear: “Ren Qiri, your hands aren’t suited for this. Let me handle it, hmm?”

Wang Zheng’s fingers were long and beautiful. He held my right hand, and as I signed with trembling fingers, he gently played with them. At that moment, Wang Zheng was pressed close against me, his burning body, yet I felt a chill deep in my bones.

Sigh.

I was still too slow. Seeing the closed school gate and the disciplinary officer with a pointer stick, I felt an infinite melancholy, and Old Lady Ren’s face flashed before me. Old Lady Ren cared greatly about face. If word of me being late and getting demerited on the first day of school reached her ears, it wouldn’t be settled with just a few lashes of the whip.

Actually, deep down, the Ren family all carried a bit of rebelliousness. But it had long been worn away by so-called upbringing. I looked at the not-too-high fence nearby and pondered for a moment. The stagnant waters in my heart, long still, began to ripple faintly.

Occasionally doing something out of bounds—that feeling was subtle.

In my past life, I was too tense. Now that life had started over, I would inadvertently stray from the path.

I climbed over the railing, jumping down not very nimbly. The disciplinary officer didn’t notice at all. I felt a glimmer of luck and secret delight, but then a contemptuous voice reached my ears: “Look what that fat bastard is doing?”

I paused and quickly turned around. Sure enough, I saw a group of kids sitting under a tree. The speaker was a slender boy with a nose ring and hair curled like spiral bacteria.

The future of our nation—I couldn’t help but worry.

Several pairs of eyes locked onto me. I felt a bit guilty; being caught doing something bad at my age made me blush.

The speaker walked over, and the others snickered, sending chills down my spine—Old He, your mouth is too accurate, more miraculous than the gods in a temple.

“Hey, fatty,” someone pushed me, making me stumble. The speaker got close, his contemptuous look reminding me of Wang Zheng the peacock. But Wang Zheng’s gaze was like an aristocrat looking at a pauper, making you want to punch him yet also admire him. This guy still had a ways to go.

“You look pretty rich. I’m a bit short on cash lately—” The boy’s breath reeked of smoke when he spoke. I couldn’t stand smoke ever since my past life. Even the smell of Wang Zheng’s cigars was unbearable to me, let alone this cheap tobacco. My disgust must have shown too clearly on my face, because the boy got angry and slapped me hard across the face.

Since I moved out of the main house, I rarely got slapped. For a moment, I really couldn’t react.

“What’s with that look, you fat bastard! Damn it, pay up and I’ll make things easy. With me as your boss, you’ll be protected, you idiot!” He kicked me too. The boys around laughed loudly and joined in. I bent over in pain, rubbing my sore stomach, and finally managed to squeeze out, “I don’t have any money…”

The boy’s face changed slightly. Honestly, I’m not that principled. If giving some money could smooth things over and let me make it to the freshman orientation, I would have paid without a second thought. Unfortunately, I had been in such a hurry earlier that I only grabbed my student ID. My wallet and anything valuable were left in my luggage…

“You’re asking for it!” The boy kicked me hard again, and the others gathered around.

Suddenly, I felt that Old He’s words made a lot of sense. I regretted my decision a bit…

Just as I was resigned to my fate, a “Hey” stopped the violence that was about to befall me. Those little delinquents actually paused.

I looked at the owner of the voice with grateful eyes.

He wasn’t far away—sitting under the same tree where those little delinquents had been gathered earlier—a slightly older boy with longer hair and striking golden blonde locks. His features were somewhat refined, but the cigarette dangling from his mouth and the string of earrings on his ear were a bit alarming.

Though I shouldn’t have prejudices against my savior, looking at him made me suddenly think of the obedient child he might become twenty years later, which made me a little sad.

“Boss, are you going to teach this fat bastard a lesson yourself?” Those little delinquents made way as if expecting a show. He stubbed out his cigarette, glanced at me lazily, and suddenly said, “New here?”

I was slow to react, stunned for a moment. Then the original speaker smacked me on the back of the head: “Fatty, the boss is talking to you, got it?!”

Sigh.

Kids are always a bit irritable. I won’t hold it against them.

The boy called “Boss” stared at me.

I felt a chill run down my spine. Maybe it’s because I’ve lived once more and my mind sometimes regresses, but I have to say, the look in kids’ eyes these days can sometimes be startling.

He walked over, lifted his foot, and hooked it under my chin.

I was very uncomfortable with this posture. Before I could turn my head away, the “Boss” bent down and suddenly reached for my pants—I jumped back in alarm. He clicked his tongue in annoyance and said coldly, “What, do you want me to pull your pants down? Your student ID.”

I was stunned, then my face flushed. I quickly pulled out my student ID.

He glanced down and murmured, “Ren… Qi… Ri…?” Then he laughed. “Fatty, you’ve got a pretty impressive name.”

He tossed the student ID back to me, said “Let’s go,” and the little delinquents, though confused, obediently followed him.

And just like that, this storm ended inexplicably.

By the time I got to the auditorium, the principal’s long-winded speech was already over. Fortunately, no teacher or disciplinary officer was guarding the auditorium entrance, so I just found a random seat and squeezed in, earning quite a few dirty looks in the process.

The MC was a sweet-looking female student. I had barely settled in when I heard her say in an excited tone, “Next, let’s welcome our freshman representative—Wang Zheng—to say a few words—”

I dug at my ears.

I hope it’s tinnitus.

I looked up and saw a boy with a faint smile on his lips, an indescribable pride in his eyes and brows. His tall, straight figure easily caught everyone’s attention—to be honest, it was the first time I had seen anyone make a school uniform look so good…

Wang Zheng was still a peacock, smiling ostentatiously.

I suddenly felt a stomach ache.

What a strange world.

Hallelujah, praise the Lord.

My mood was complicated.

Too complicated to put into words.

Especially when I opened the dormitory door and saw my luggage set aside, and on the single bed, that peacock of a man reclining like a beauty, holding an original poetry collection by Galiste. When I walked in, he lifted his eyes slightly and flashed a very disdainful smile.

I was exhausted.

Wang Zheng the peacock’s things took up most of the room. I had no choice but to put my luggage in a corner and quietly organize it, even though the contemptuous gaze behind me made me very uncomfortable.

“What are you doing?”

Wang Zheng was very smart, but he liked to ask questions he already knew the answer to. Like back then, when I signed the divorce papers and left all the remaining real estate under my name to Shu Yuan, Wang Zheng looked at me with a dark expression and asked, “Why did you do that?”

I looked up.

Wang Zheng’s face was exactly as I remembered from my past life. Still very refined, very handsome, the type that people praised and girls liked.

Actually, Wang Zheng had always been popular. In my past life, he changed girlfriends one after another, and I always, with a bit of selfishness, pretended to kindly warn him. Wang Zheng would always reply, “You’re impotent with women yourself, and you expect me to keep you company? Don’t be disgusting, Ren Qiri.”

“Where’s Little He?”

Wang Zheng’s voice was slightly higher than the average man’s, but whenever he lowered his voice to speak, it meant he was angry. “He takes the Ren family’s salary, and this is how he does his job?” Wang Zheng immediately pulled out a mobile phone. At that moment, I could no longer pretend to be calm and quickly stepped forward to grab his hand. “Little He went to get the car repaired. Don’t tell Madam.”

Wang Zheng stared at me.

I realized I was holding his elbow and awkwardly withdrew my hand. Sure enough, Wang Zheng waved his hand contemptuously, as if touching something dirty.

I turned back to organize my things. After a moment of silence, that voice that had once made my heart flutter sounded behind me: “Ren Qiri.”

Wang Zheng pulled a simply packaged bag from his bag and rudely tossed it onto my bed.

Curious, like a young person, I went over and opened the bag. Inside was the newly released Walkman, along with music discs by Barc, which I had always liked. I quickly took a look; I remembered that in my past life, I had spent a long time trying to find all of them because I liked them so much, but I never had time to sit down and listen…

My heart fluttered slightly.

Don’t say I’m childish. No matter the age, receiving a gift you like is always a joy.

At the bottom of the bag was a small card. I glanced at Wang Zheng, saw him sneer at me, and couldn’t help but feel a little sad at the thought that I had been secretly flattering myself…

I picked up the palm-sized card and looked at the line of writing.

【Qiri, congratulations on entering middle school. Also, happy belated birthday.】 【Third Uncle.】 The signature at the bottom…

Completely doused the passion burning in my heart.