I Can't Fall for My Own Wife Again After Reincarnation, Right? (GL) - Chapter 23

When Zhao Yu saw Xu Yingran’s monthly exam results, her vision immediately darkened.

“Ranran, what happened this time? How did you score so poorly?” Zhao Yu looked at her with deep distress. “With grades like these, how can you possibly get into university?”

Although in the future, bachelor’s degree holders would be everywhere, apart from key high schools, only about half of the students in ordinary high schools could make it to university. The rest either retook the exams or went to vocational colleges, and those with some connections might end up in third-tier institutions.

But the Xu family’s situation was just like that, an ordinary, modest household without any high-ranking relatives or influential connections. Apart from the college entrance exam, Zhao Yu couldn’t think of any other path for Xu Yingran’s future.

“Mom, don’t worry. I just underperformed this time. Next time, I’ll definitely make it into the top thirty in my class,” Xu Yingran declared firmly.

Zhao Yu sighed and slapped the test papers into Xu Chunjiang’s arms, signaling for him, as the father, to say something.

Xu Chunjiang was a shy man. He worked in technical roles at the factory, and now, being asked to scold his daughter, he found it hard to speak up.

“Ranran,” Xu Chunjiang thought for a long moment before finally saying, “It’s okay if you didn’t do well this time. Just keep trying next time.”

As soon as he finished, Xu Chunjiang earned a kick from his wife.

“What kind of nonsense are you spouting?” Zhao Yu snapped.

Xu Chunjiang pouted and said to his wife, “It’s true, isn’t it? No one can perform well every time. Even you sometimes oversalt the dishes. Don’t be so harsh on the child.”

Zhao Yu was furious and kicked her husband twice more.

Watching her parents argue, Xu Yingran quietly shuffled along the wall and said, “I’ll go do my homework now.”

Xu Chunjiang looked up and said, “Go ahead. We’ll call you when dinner’s ready.”

Zhao Yu was about to say more, but Xu Chunjiang wrapped his arms around her waist and dragged her out of Xu Yingran’s room.

Listening to the sound of her parents bickering outside, Xu Yingran helplessly closed the door.

She tidied up the messy test papers on her desk and, for the first time in forever, took out her textbooks to review, determined to compile all the mistakes from this month’s exam into an error notebook.

Her mother was right about one thing, with grades like these, how could she get into university?

She was well aware of her family’s circumstances. Xu Chunjiang was a designer at the factory, which sounded impressive but was essentially just a slightly bigger cog in the machine. The job was stable and comfortable, like a stainless steel rice bowl.

Zhao Yu worked as an accountant at the hospital, but she was just one of many. In a place like that, you could toil your whole life without ever getting promoted.

If Xu Yingran didn’t work hard, there was a real chance she wouldn’t get into university and might end up setting up a street stall.

Fortunately, she still remembered the barbecue skills she’d learned from Fu Qiao’s parents. Even if she really had to set up a stall, she probably wouldn’t starve.

But Xu Yingran felt her life shouldn’t be like this. She was meant for something more glorious.

Yet the prerequisite for glory was still getting into university.

After hastily eating dinner, Xu Yingran dove back into her room to work on problems, even digging out old practice questions, something she’d never done before. She kept at it until 11 p.m., when exhaustion finally forced her to bed.

The next morning, Xu Yingran hadn’t slept well. Even in her dreams, she was solving problems.

When Fu Qiao came to find her, she was greeted by the sight of Xu Yingran’s heavy dark circles under her eyes. Surprised and concerned, she asked, “What happened to you? Didn’t sleep well last night?”

“Yeah,” Xu Yingran yawned. “I was doing practice problems until 11 p.m. last night, and even dreamed about solving them. I almost couldn’t get up this morning.”

Fu Qiao was still worried about her, after all, they were childhood friends, and was thinking about how to help.

But Xu Yingran spoke first.

“Let’s go to the bookstore this weekend,” she said. “The exercises I did yesterday were way too easy. There’s no way the college entrance exam will have questions like these. I need a new workbook.”

Fu Qiao frowned. “The ones we bought together before school started? I thought they were fine. Did you finish them already?”

“Did a few,” Xu Yingran replied. “I already know how to solve all of them. There’s no way they’d test on these patterns. I definitely need a new one.”

“You… sure are taking this seriously,” Fu Qiao said, clasping her hands behind her back as she walked backward, eyeing her. “Did your parents scold you badly last night?”

They had, but that wasn’t the only reason.

Xu Yingran sighed deeply and said, “Anyway, let’s go to the bookstore this weekend.”

“Why wait for the weekend? Let’s go after school. The bookstore stays open until 10 p.m.”

“Hmm… alright.”

As the two chatted, they noticed Chen Yu walking out of the school gate.

She wasn’t wearing her uniform. Her father was with her, talking to the dean standing at the school entrance, who was in charge of inspections.

The two stopped and watched.

Ever since Chen Yu had publicly apologized in front of the entire school, she hadn’t attended classes. Rumor had it she was transferring.

Transferring during senior year wasn’t ideal, but Chen Yu’s grades had always been poor. Even if she took the college entrance exam, her chances of getting into university were slim, so her transfer didn’t seem like a big deal.

It was peak arrival time, and students passing by whispered among themselves at the sight of Chen Yu. Some bold ones even stopped to point and stare.

Chen Yu kept her head down, her expression unreadable, but she seemed in low spirits.

On the Monday before the monthly exam, Chen Yu had come to school and read a self-criticism during the flag-raising ceremony, making her somewhat of a school-wide celebrity now.

Fu Qiao frowned worriedly and instinctively grabbed Xu Yingran’s hand. “She’s not here to cause trouble for you again, is she?”

Xu Yingran glanced at their intertwined hands. “Probably not.”

Just then, Chen Yu looked up and noticed Xu Yingran and Fu Qiao standing nearby. She froze for a moment before turning her face away, biting her lip as if conflicted.

Xu Yingran didn’t say anything about her reaction and simply tightened her grip on Fu Qiao’s hand as they walked toward the school gate together.

Some students noticed Xu Yingran and grew excited, eager for drama. One even shouted at Chen Yu, “Chen Yu, the person you offended is here! Why don’t you kneel and apologize?”

Chen Yu’s face instantly paled, her whole body trembling slightly.

High schoolers had no filter, but Xu Yingran found it satisfying to hear.

The dean and Chen Yu’s father also heard the commotion and turned to look at Xu Yingran, remaining silent.

Fu Qiao grew nervous at the scene, her grip on Xu Yingran’s hand turning clammy with sweat.

Xu Yingran wasn’t particularly nervous. She calmly walked over and stopped not far from Chen Yu. Hearing someone in the crowd whistle provocatively, Chen Yu’s expression darkened further.

But Xu Yingran ignored Chen Yu completely, turning instead to the school dean to say, “Good morning, teacher.”

This “good morning” was deliberately pointed, there was no need to specifically greet the dean, yet she made a point of doing so.

Clearly, she was snubbing Chen Yu.

The dean’s expression stiffened slightly as he nodded at Xu Yingran and Fu Qiao. “Good morning to you both. Hurry inside, morning self-study is about to start.”

“Alright,” Xu Yingran replied cheerfully. “We’ll head to class then. Goodbye, teacher.”

Without sparing a glance at Chen Yu’s reaction, she took Fu Qiao’s hand and walked away.

Fu Qiao peeked back at Chen Yu’s expression, her face had turned green with shock as she stared at Xu Yingran’s retreating figure. Finally, Chen Yu crouched down, hugging her knees as she began to sob quietly.

Fu Qiao turned to look at Xu Yingran.

“What?” Xu Yingran didn’t turn, speaking evenly. “Feeling sorry for her?”

“No,” Fu Qiao murmured. “She bullied you first. Transferring schools is already going easy on her.”

Rarely seeing Fu Qiao so biased, Xu Yingran stopped to look at her, lips curling into a smile.

“What are you laughing at?” Fu Qiao grew flustered under her gaze, only then realizing they’d been holding hands this whole time.

“Just looking at you. What’s wrong?” Xu Yingran teased. “Can’t I admire my childhood sweetheart a little more?”

Fu Qiao flushed instantly, shaking off Xu Yingran’s hand. “You’re the childhood sweetheart.”

“Whatever you say.” Amused, Xu Yingran watched Fu Qiao’s reddened cheeks. “Let’s get to class before we’re scolded for being late.”

When they arrived, Xu Yingran saw Yao Jin already seated properly at her desk, reading.

Xu Yingran motioned for Fu Qiao to return to her seat first, then walked over to tap Yao Jin’s desk, signaling her to look up.

Yao Jin blinked her clear eyes up at her. “Something wrong?”

“I saw Chen Yu at the gate,” Xu Yingran said. “Seems she’s transferring.”

Yao Jin: “Oh.”

She immediately lowered her head back to her textbook, until Xu Yingran smacked a palm on the desk, leaning down to stare at her. “You did the work, but I get the credit. How generous of you.”

Yao Jin easily caught her meaning, smiling up. “You were bullied, so I bullied back. Isn’t that what friends do?”

Xu Yingran paused, then chuckled helplessly. “You’re right.”

After all, they’d be friends for over a decade more. If Yao Jin ever got bullied, Xu Yingran would gladly return the favor.

Chen Yu’s transfer was mentioned just once by their homeroom teacher before class, as inconsequential as a fly leaving the room. No one paid it any mind.