After being reborn, I had a bad ending with my first love. - Chapter 6
“Yan Sui, the music teacher wants you in her office.”
“Okay.” Yan Sui capped her pen.
Chen Ling also put her pen down, glanced around, then leaned closer to whisper: “Is it about the choir?”
Yan Sui nodded. “Should be.”
She pulled her test paper out of the desk slot, set it on the table, and pressed it down with her pencil case. “Lingling, when the class rep comes to collect papers, can you hand mine in for me?”
Chen Ling gave her an “OK” sign.
The music teacher’s office was on the third floor of the arts building. The corridor linking their teaching building connected straight across, so she didn’t need to go down to the first floor and circle back up.
Their class was on the second floor, and above them—the third and fourth floors—were the science classes.
As she went upstairs, the bell had just rung for the break. The corridor bustled with noisy students—except one classroom, whose hallway remained quiet.
From the gap between the stairwell and the corridor, she could see into the classroom. Inside, students sat neatly at their desks, and even the few who moved around were carrying books.
Yan Sui’s eyes searched a small section by the window, but she didn’t see Yu Shuli.
Just as she was about to withdraw her gaze, a boy with a water bottle cap twisted in hand sat back down by the window. After putting his cup back on the sill, he put on his glasses and lowered his head over a book.
His nearsightedness wasn’t severe, but he always wore glasses while studying. She remembered during their senior year, when he came to her class one evening to work on problems with her.
The exam paper then wasn’t hard, but they still stayed until eleven o’clock at night.
Not because of the problems—because of her heartbeat when he sat next to her.
Her pen had followed the questions, but she hadn’t listened to a single explanation. By the end, Yu Shuli realized and they had exchanged an embarrassed laugh. Yet, somehow, while laughing, the atmosphere had changed.
Yu Shuli had taken off his glasses and leaned slowly toward her.
Only the school bell striking eleven broke the moment.
In the end, that kiss never landed on her lips.
Yan Sui pulled her gaze away before the system in her head popped out again.
Though her face looked calm, her wildly beating heart betrayed her.
The system’s cool voice came: “Host, I detect your emotional fluctuations are particularly strong right now.”
Yan Sui felt a flicker of embarrassment. She forced an excuse: “Probably just nervous about what I’m going to say later.”
“Host, are you referring to rejecting the choir?”
“Mm, I’m working through the phrasing.”
“Host, certain butterfly effects may not unfold as we first expected. Please be prepared.”
Yan Sui froze, about to ask more, but the system’s signal abruptly cut off.
She understood the implication—and felt a vague, uneasy premonition.
Her gaze shifted toward the office door across the corridor.
Once she stepped through that door, all ties with Yu Shuli would be severed.
They would never meet again.
At that thought, a strange sorrow rose within her. Instead of joy at completing her mission, her footsteps slowed.
“May I come in?”
“Please.”
Only her music teacher was in the office. As Yan Sui approached, the teacher set down her lesson plan and asked directly: “I heard from your homeroom teacher you don’t want to join the choir anymore. Why?”
Yan Sui had prepared her answer: “Teacher, I talked it over with my parents. They feel that since I’m in my second year now, joining the choir will delay my studies. They’ve arranged tutoring for me after school, and my free time is already packed with lessons. I don’t have the energy to join the school choir anymore.”
Citing studies—the universal excuse.
Sure enough, her words made the teacher’s face dim instantly. She opened her mouth, wanting to argue, but couldn’t find a way against that reason.
At last, the teacher sighed: “If it’s for studies, then there’s nothing I can do. I wanted you in the choir because of your performance in the Top Ten last year. Choir doesn’t take much time, but I’ll respect your decision.”
“Sorry, teacher.” Yan Sui’s apology was quiet.
The teacher waved it off. “No need for apologies. I only wanted to ask the reason. If it’s for study, I understand. Class will start soon, head back now.”
Yan Sui nodded and left, closing the office door behind her.
Checking her watch, she saw there was still time. The next class was P.E., so her classmates would gather directly at the track.
She planned to return to her classroom to change before heading down. But as she turned the corner, a sudden figure jumped out—Tan Shu.
Startled, she flinched, while Tan Shu leaned against the wall, laughing uncontrollably. “You’re so careless! How can you be scared this easily?”
Yan Sui frowned. “Don’t scare people like that!”
“Alright, alright, won’t do it next time.”
“How did you know I was here?”
“I saw you come out of the music office.” Tan Shu bumped her shoulder playfully. “So? Was it about the choir?”
Leaning against a clean section of railing, Yan Sui nodded. “Yes, but only to ask why I wasn’t joining.”
Tan Shu’s hand froze. “What? Why not?”
They had placed second together in the Top Ten contest, and both been invited into the choir. Tan Shu had been overjoyed, hugging her, saying they’d finally stand on a bigger stage together.
Yan Sui felt guilty, but she had no other choice.
She had promised the system—and knew she and Yu Shuli could never be close again.
If you want to return, you must give up your relationship with Yu Shuli.
“Why?”
Because in the web of time, there are countless possibilities. But the reason you reached that final ending is because you started wrong.
You each have your own separate path.
Together, no matter the choices, you would only harm each other. Only separation is the correct line.
I am here to correct that line. If you agree, press the button before you.
Yan Sui had no choice. She had to return and fix her family’s fate.
As for Yu Shuli—she didn’t resent his departure. But since she already knew what the twenty-seven-year-old Yu Shuli would choose, she would, in this life, cut off their ties at seventeen herself.
In P.E., they ran 800 meters. By the end of class, sweat trickled down Yan Sui’s forehead, dampening the baby hairs clinging to her skin.
Borrowing tissues from Chen Ling, she wiped her face clean and felt much better.
“It’s so hot, Sui Sui. I’m going to the shop for a drink. Want to come?”
She shook her head. “No. My period’s coming soon, so I’m avoiding cold drinks.”
“Okay. Then can you take my uniform back for me?”
“Sure.”
When class ended, most students headed toward the shop, leaving only a few walking with her back toward the classroom.
Before returning, Yan Sui stopped by the water room to fill her bottle. When she came out, the hallway was already empty; her classmates had gone back inside.
She walked slowly, preoccupied, her mind replaying her earlier conversation with Tan Shu.
Cutting off the bond from her last life left her with a bittersweet, complicated feeling.
But no matter what, she told herself—this was the best ending for them both.
She finally felt her heart unclench a little and headed back, ready to grab her bag.
Yet, at the classroom door, she froze.
A boy in the blue-and-white school uniform stood there, backpack slung over one shoulder, leaning on the railing with a troubled expression, gazing across at the other building.
Yan Sui’s steps faltered. She was about to turn away when another figure darted out from behind him—Tan Shu.
Spotting her, Tan Shu’s eyes lit up. She waved. “Sui Sui!”
Yan Sui froze. Neither moving forward nor retreating.
Hearing Tan Shu, the boy turned. The gloom on his face vanished in an instant. He tightened his grip on his bag strap, eyes blazing as he looked straight at her.
Yan Sui: “……”
At that moment, the broken static of the system crackled in her mind.
She asked inwardly: “Why is Yu Shuli here? Didn’t I already refuse the choir?”
System: “He came with Tan Shu.”
“So this is what you meant—because of the butterfly effect, things didn’t unfold as expected?”
“Yes, Host. I only reminded you of possible changes. I didn’t anticipate he’d appear here with Tan Shu.”
Yan Sui: “……”