After Being Reborn, I Had A Bad Ending With My First Love. - Chapter 20

“I am Lin Jingchen’s older brother, Lin Jingyang. I apologize for my younger brother’s behavior toward you and your classmates. I am sorry for disturbing your studies. After bringing Lin Jingchen back, I will make sure to discipline him. I also assure you that incidents like this will not happen again. I am truly sorry.”

His voice was soft yet firm, coming from directly in front of her. The tone and timbre were just right, as if it could sweep away all the tension from her body.

When his words fell, the hand in front of her remained extended, just like his expression, waiting for her response.

Yan Sui met his gaze, holding his look for a few seconds before averting her eyes. “It’s nothing. Compared to me, it was Yu Shuli who suffered actual harm.”

She didn’t shake his hand, steering the topic away from herself with a neutral tone.

Her words quickly drew everyone’s attention to Yu Shuli. The principal followed her lead: “Yes, Mr. Lin. I’ve already explained the situation to you. The trigger was your younger brother, Lin Jingchen, smoking at school, which Yu Shuli and Yan Sui discovered. He then held a grudge and repeatedly caused trouble for them.”

Seeing his hand come up empty, Lin Jingyang remained calm and unperturbed. He turned to the principal: “Yes, Principal. I understand what happened. This was indeed my younger brother’s fault. We accept whatever punishment the school deems necessary.”

“Brother—” Lin Jingchen couldn’t help but speak.

Lin Jingyang tilted his head and shot him a sharp look, his voice suddenly icy: “Shut up.”

The cold tone was completely different from the one he had used with Yan Sui.

Lin Jingchen was startled, immediately lowering his head and pretending to be small and timid.

Seeing his younger brother obey, Lin Jingyang relaxed his gaze and smiled at everyone: “Apologies. Let’s continue.”

The change in attitude was like a switch between two different people.

The principal, a seasoned educator, quickly understood the implication of this exchange and smiled to smooth things over: “Children are in their adolescence; it’s normal to make mistakes. But Lin Jingchen’s actions were indeed rather serious and negatively affected other students…”

He paused at the right moment, and Lin Jingyang picked up on the implication, stating earnestly: “I apologize on behalf of my family to Yan Sui and Yu Shuli for my brother’s actions. For any physical or psychological impact caused to you both, I will fully cooperate with subsequent compensation. If there are any other requests, you may present them as well.”

Lin Jingyang’s sincere attitude earned repeated nods from the principal.

Catching Lin Jingyang’s gaze, Yan Sui hesitated, then shook her head: “I don’t need any compensation. As I said, I didn’t suffer any actual harm. If anything, I just hope that Lin Jingchen doesn’t bother us again.”

“That’s only natural. I’ll make sure to discipline my brother.”

After assuring Yan Sui, Lin Jingyang turned his attention to Yu Shuli: “What about you, Yu Shuli? What would you like us to do?”

Unlike Yan Sui, Yu Shuli felt a subtle, unspoken meaning in the way Lin Jingyang looked at him, making him uncomfortable.

He firmly refused: “I don’t need anything either.”

His tone was cold and stiff.

Yan Sui, standing slightly to his side, couldn’t help but notice his unusual attitude and raised eyebrows slightly.

Yu Shuli’s sudden demeanor left his older brother and sister-in-law momentarily stunned.

Yu Shuli had always been polite and cheerful, with no conflicts with neighbors, teachers, or classmates. Everyone had a good impression of him.

They had never seen him behave like this.

Yu Shufeng, his older brother, lightly tugged his arm and whispered a reminder: “Shuli.”

Yu Shuli immediately realized his behavior, and remembering Yan Sui was nearby, he felt ashamed. A flush rose to his cheeks, and his inner emotions struggled against his rational mind.

The mix of teenage shame and inner struggle placed him on an unsteady balance.

Though he recognized his attitude was inappropriate, he couldn’t bring himself to apologize.

Lin Jingyang observed his reaction and subtle movements carefully. Behind his glasses, his eyes revealed an unreadable emotion, but a faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips: “It’s fine. It’s natural for Yu Shuli to be upset. Do the parents of these two students have any suggestions on handling this matter?”

He smiled openly, giving no impression of ulterior motives.

Yu Shufeng and his wife, Zhu Yue, exchanged a glance. Yu Shufeng spoke: “We respect Shuli’s wishes. He only has minor scratches, which were treated the same day. No compensation is needed.”

Zhu Yue looked at Yan Sui: “My only request, like Lin Jingyang’s, is that Shuli is in his second year of high school and will soon enter his final year. We hope he won’t be disturbed in his studies again.”

“Of course.”

Although neither Yan Sui nor Yu Shuli wanted compensation, Lin Jingyang still handed over the gifts he had brought. Facing their reluctance, he said: “Even if you don’t want compensation, please accept these as a token of my apology.”

With the principal mediating, Yan Sui and Yu Shuli accepted the two gift bags.

Lin Jingyang needed to stay in the office to discuss Lin Jingchen’s situation with the principal, so the homeroom teacher led Yan Sui and the others out first.

Yu Shuli didn’t have a chance to speak to Yan Sui and was called away by his older brother, sister-in-law, and homeroom teacher.

“Leave the items in my office for now. Carrying such conspicuous gift bags to the classroom will draw attention,” suggested the homeroom teacher.

Yan Sui was relieved, having no idea where to store the gifts. She readily agreed.

Yan Sui had lost half a class period due to this matter. Returning to class, the math lesson was halfway through. Fortunately, the class was reviewing the previous week’s test, and with Chen Ling’s guidance, she quickly caught up.

Two consecutive math periods later, it was already dinnertime.

After class, the lingering irritability returned. She had no appetite and declined Chen Ling and Wen Qingman’s invitation, deciding instead to buy a bread from the small store later.

Once Chen Ling and Wen Qingman left, only Yan Sui and a few classmates quietly working at their desks remained.

Skipping meals to study was not unusual in this class.

Yan Sui pulled out the recently distributed test paper, uncapped her pen, and started reviewing the questions.

Normally, the first three multiple-choice questions would take only seconds to solve.

But now, the letters on the page seemed to crawl like insects, twisting and turning. No matter how she tried to focus, she couldn’t read a single question.

Yan Sui: “……”

Her hand instinctively dropped the pen. The small movement didn’t disturb the other students.

The pen rolled twice on the desk, coming to rest just in front of her test paper.

She sat motionless, staring at the desk, as if waiting for something.

After a moment, the system finally spoke: “Host, why aren’t you saying anything?”

Yan Sui’s brow drooped as she thought to herself, I’m waiting for you to speak. Didn’t you have something to say?

“……”

Seeing the system silent, she added: “Isn’t that so? You’ve been disturbing my focus and stopping me from answering these questions because you have something to tell me, right?”

“Host, clever.”

For some reason, those simple words felt almost like a shy chuckle hidden beneath the cold mechanical tone.

Then the system went silent again.

Yan Sui knew it was waiting for her to actively report on the progress of Task Three.

Since returning from the office, the system had patiently waited for her to initiate the conversation.

This system seemed surprisingly considerate.

A thought suddenly appeared in Yan Sui’s mind.

But the next second, the cold mechanical voice interrupted: “Host, stop thinking about other things.”

Yan Sui: “……”

She sighed lightly. “I will do the task. I just have some questions I haven’t figured out yet.”

“What questions, Host?”

After hesitating, Yan Sui spoke: “System, don’t you think Lin Jingyang is a little strange?”

“I don’t think so, Host.”

Yan Sui gritted her teeth and asked all her questions at once: “Today was the first time I met him, but his attitude made me feel like it wasn’t our first meeting. His gaze was particularly strange—several times in the office, when our eyes met, I saw emotions I couldn’t understand.

“And even ignoring the fact that I know he’s my target for this task, from his perspective, this is our first meeting. He’s just a second-year high school student, so why approach me formally, greet me, and even shake my hand?”

After pouring out her thoughts, Yan Sui felt considerably relieved.

She realized she had spoken more than usual to the system.

Yan Sui had never been a talkative person. She usually remained quiet, only speaking out when her emotions were intense.

In her previous life, before her father’s affair, she had been reserved, not discussing emotions much. Her relationship with Yu Shuli developed mostly due to youthful matchmaking, leading to young love.

Even then, they rarely exchanged words of affection.

After family troubles, her personality didn’t change much, only adding a trace of bitterness.

She preferred shouting her thoughts in her mind rather than speaking to others.

Now, with the system residing in her brain, all her internal cries could be heard.

Suddenly, she realized she was speaking more than ever before.

Things she would normally say to herself were now a dialogue with the system.

The system had become a second party to her inner thoughts.

After listening to her, the system remained silent.

Yan Sui wondered if this target for the task could truly be trusted.

The system’s next words confirmed her suspicions:

“Respected Host, Task Three’s progress bar has started moving. Lin Jingyang’s current favorability is 30. When favorability reaches 100, the task will be completed.”

Yan Sui: “…………………………….”