It Seems I’m Not The Only One Who Reincarnated - Chapter 48: A Side Dish

“By the way, didn’t you just say there’d be a punishment for the loser?”

“Uh—!”

Jian Sichun froze, her face turning red with embarrassment.

She remembered the punishments she had endured in the past.

Of course, they wouldn’t do anything like the punishments couples do now, but just hearing the word “punishment” from Shi Hai made her body instinctively brace for “battle.”

“I-I’m true to my word! You can punish me however you want!”

Jian Sichun decided to go all in, straightening her body and slightly lifting her head, ready to accept whatever he had in mind.

But under her expectant yet embarrassed gaze, Shi Hai just patted her shoulder and casually said,

“Then, you’re punished to help me move the luggage.”

“…”

“Come on, it’s time to move out.”

Watching Shi Hai get up from his seat and walk out of the room, Jian Sichun felt even more embarrassed.

What on earth was I expecting?!

She squatted down, holding her head in her hands, pressing her forehead against her knees, feeling her cheeks burn with embarrassment.

Am I really this desperate…?

For the first time, Jian Sichun felt that she might have turned into a shameless woman, spoiled by Shi Hai’s affection.

And why did I feel so embarrassed…?

In the past, she wouldn’t have been shaken by something like this.

After all, she had “been through it all.”

But ever since she was reborn, Jian Sichun felt like her mindset had reverted to that of a twenty-year-old, or even younger, like an eighteen-year-old high school girl.

It was as if she was an innocent maiden, inexperienced in matters of love, blushing and getting flustered over a simple word or thought… completely immature.

From a psychological standpoint, she was already a 29-year-old woman, so why was she acting like a girl who had never been in love?

She was regressing… well, literally going back in time.

It’s all because of him…

Jian Sichun raised her head again to see Shi Hai already helping her lift her suitcase, and she couldn’t help but smile foolishly with happiness.

Perhaps… it wasn’t just Shi Hai who was influenced by Jian Sichun.

Jian Sichun, too, was influenced by Shi Hai, rediscovering that sweet and innocent “first love” feeling.

Compared to the rational relationships of adults, Jian Sichun preferred this feeling.

As long as it’s sweet, being a love-struck fool isn’t so bad.

With that thought, Jian Sichun relaxed and joined Shi Hai in moving the luggage.

…

Dinner time.

Tonight’s dinner was a collaboration between Zhu Lingjie and Jian Sichun.

The meal was so abundant that it elevated the quality of dinner at Shi Hai’s house to an unprecedented level.

Although Liu Zhenshan was somewhat displeased that her cooking skills were outshone by her son, she couldn’t help but beam with pride upon seeing how skilled her “future daughters-in-law” were in the kitchen. She showered both of them with praise.

In her heart, she harbored the unrealistic wish of having both of them as her daughter-in-law.

Even Shi Hai was impressed and gave them plenty of compliments.

Seeing how much Shi Hai enjoyed the food and receiving his praise, Zhu Lingjie wore a contented smile, already satisfied beyond measure.

She felt that she would sleep soundly tonight and even dream sweetly.

Jian Sichun, on the other hand, secretly vowed to practice more after realizing that Zhu Lingjie’s cooking was several notches above hers.

She was determined to catch up.

Watching the delightful reactions of the girls, Liu Zhenshan found herself eating faster than usual.

It wasn’t until her chopsticks scraped the bottom of her bowl that she realized she had almost finished her rice without noticing.

Taking in the girls’ emotional expressions was more appetizing than any gourmet dish in the world!

Today, Liu Zhenshan’s appetite was through the roof, and she doubled her usual intake.

“Shi Hai, get me another bowl of rice!”

Jian Sichun and Zhu Lingjie stood up simultaneously.

“I’ll get it.””Let me get it.”

They exchanged glances, feeling a bit awkward.

After all, their eagerness to please was quite obvious.

The two of them then awkwardly smiled and started to politely offer the task to the other.

“You go ahead, Sichun…” “You offered first, Lingjie, so it’s only right that you do it…”

Liu Zhenshan took a bite of food and then another big mouthful of rice.

Delicious! So delicious!

Shi Hai, however, was quite speechless.

What the heck? It’s just getting more rice, why are they acting like it’s some big deal?

Unable to watch any longer, Shi Hai stood up, pressing down on their shoulders and gently seating them back down.

“Mom specifically asked for me. You two just keep eating.”

“Mmm…”

“Oh…”

The two obediently sat down, both looking a bit shy.

Seeing this reaction, Liu Zhenshan licked her bowl clean, not leaving a single grain of rice.

When Shi Hai returned with a newly filled half-bowl of rice, he handed it to his mother, giving her a puzzled look.

“Mom, why are you eating so much? Can your stomach handle it?”

“Oh, Sichun and Lingling’s cooking is just too good—I can’t help but want to eat more…”

Of course, their behavior itself was even more delightful and delicious, Liu Zhenshan thought to herself.

Shi Hai didn’t know what to do with her, thinking that he should probably get her some stomach medicine after dinner.

After sitting back down, Shi Hai asked about something important.

“Mom, when is Shi Meng arriving?”

“Oh, I talked to her today. She said she’ll move in on Friday evening after her classes.”

“Today’s Tuesday, so that’s the day after tomorrow… I’ll go pick her up from school on Friday then. Can you contact her class teacher for me? Otherwise, even as a graduate, I won’t be able to get near the girls’ dorm. The dorm supervisor will definitely stop me.”

Liu Zhenshan blinked innocently and said, “But I don’t have Shi Meng’s class teacher’s contact information.”

“Hey! What kind of guardian are you? How can you be so unreliable!”

“Ugh… Stupid son! Don’t be so mean to me!”

“Hah… Old lady, seriously…”

“Calling your mom ‘old lady’? I’ll cry, you know!”

“…”

Liu Zhenshan pouted, acting cute, and Shi Hai could only roll his eyes.

If it were just the two of them, it wouldn’t matter, but Jian Sichun and Zhu Lingjie were both there too. Wasn’t this embarrassing?

Actually, Sichun and Lingjie were already used to it.

They both adored the open-minded and adorable Liu Zhenshan, so how could they be annoyed?

In their past lives, they were already Liu Zhenshan’s people!

It was like being mother and daughter-in-law, perfectly in sync.

However, seeing Shi Hai so exasperated, Zhu Lingjie felt a bit sorry for him and cautiously raised her hand to suggest,

“Why don’t I go with you? I can talk to the teachers—they probably still remember me and would let us into the girls’ dorm.”

Zhu Lingjie had been an excellent student in high school and never caused any trouble, so the teachers liked her and treated her with great care.

She had a good relationship with her teachers, though only with the female ones.

“Can you?”

“Mhm.”

“Then I’ll leave it to you.”

“It’s no trouble.”

Shi Hai was straightforward about it.

He already considered Zhu Lingjie a friend, so if she was willing to help, he didn’t see any need to be polite.

Hearing this, Liu Zhenshan had a sudden idea and suggested,

“Why don’t the three of you go pick up Shi Meng together?”

“Huh?”

Originally feeling a bit lonely about not being able to join the childhood friends, Jian Sichun was stunned by Liu Zhenshan’s suggestion.

“Sichun, wouldn’t you like to see the high school where Shi Hai and Lingling went? This is the perfect chance to visit, especially since it’ll be Friday afternoon, and the students will be out of class.”

At their high school, there were no evening classes on Friday, but instead, they had evening classes on Sunday.

Jian Sichun was tempted; she did want to see Shi Hai’s alma mater.

But she was also worried about intruding on the two childhood friends’ outing…

However, her curiosity won out, and she hesitantly pointed to herself and asked,

“So… um… can I come too?”

“I don’t mind.”

Shi Hai’s thinking was simple.

If he couldn’t enter the girls’ dorm to help with moving things, everything would be left to the girls.

Having Jian Sichun along would mean an extra pair of hands.

Zhu Lingjie smiled and said,

“Of course you can. Let’s go together.”

Jian Sichun might be the first “true friend” Zhu Lingjie had made, so naturally, she wanted to grow closer to her.

And so, the plan to pick up Shi Meng turned into a trio outing.

At this point, the most excited person was Liu Zhenshan.

As she gulped down her rice, she thought to herself, “A love triangle… how delightful!”

Does she have a stomachache? Not at all!

Since the anime adaptation of White Album 2 hadn’t aired yet, there wasn’t a more representative term to describe such a tangled love triangle.

Otherwise, someone as gossipy as Liu Zhenshan would surely exclaim, “The pain of white love is simply marvelous!”

Liu Zhenshan decided that on Friday afternoon, she would sneak along even if she had to take time off work.

That night, she would definitely have another great appetite and could easily eat three bowls of rice!