Rebirth: Looking Back in a Sudden Realization - Chapter 10

Zhao Zhongyuan finally got his two Blizzards, grinning as he handed one to Shao Chuyan:
“So many people in line! Here, hurry up and eat. Huh, sis, are you not feeling well?”

Shao Chuyan’s face was pale, nothing like just now. She took the ice cream with a small smile. Just then, a taxi pulled up, and she quickly flagged it down, covering up with:
“Maybe it’s too hot. Let’s just head home.”

After dinner that evening, Zhao Longhua’s driver came to pick Zhongyuan up. Barely two minutes after he left, the doorbell rang. Chuyan skipped over to open the door, calling out:
“What did you forget this time?”

The moment the door swung open, a strong wave of perfume hit her nose. Standing outside was a young woman with delicate pale skin, oversized sunglasses, bright red lips, and a curvaceous figure. A sparkling diamond necklace hung from her long neck. She slipped off her sunglasses to reveal a pair of pretty eyes under heavy makeup—a face that looked oddly familiar.

Chuyan blinked in confusion.
“Who are you looking for?”

The woman chuckled lightly.
“May I see Ms. Shao Yiner?”

That made Chuyan frown. Her mother had no friends in Jincheng. Blocking the doorway, she asked:
“Who are you?”

With obvious self-assurance, the woman replied:
“Xu Fenyi.”

Chuyan suddenly realized—it was that once-popular movie queen. Actually, she should be at the height of her career right now. But what was she doing here? Could it be…?

Cautious, she said:
“If you have something to say, you can tell me. I’ll pass the message to her.”

Xu Fenyi smirked.
“I deliberately waited for the driver to take Zhongyuan away before coming up. You’re not really planning to block me out, are you?”

“You—”

At that moment, Shao Yiner walked out from the kitchen, hearing the noise.
“Did Zhongyuan forget something?”

She stopped short when she saw it wasn’t her son, frowning slightly.
“And you are?”

Tossing her hair proudly, Xu Fenyi announced:
“I’m Longhua’s fiancée. I came specifically to speak with Ms. Shao.”

Unruffled, Shao Yiner replied evenly:
“A guest is still a guest. Chuyan, let your aunt in—don’t be rude.”

Ignoring the subtle jab, Xu Fenyi swept into the living room and sat down confidently. Her eyes roamed over the place: a standard hotel suite had been transformed into something warm and elegant. A fresh bouquet of white roses stood by the sofa, a framed painting titled A Hundred Birds Toward the Phoenix hung on the wall, fine handmade rugs and ornaments scattered tastefully around. Xu Fenyi couldn’t help scoffing inwardly—typical rich-lady nonsense. Better to spend that money on jewelry you can flaunt outside.

Chuyan, wary, set a glass of plain water in front of her.
“Auntie, please have some water.”

Xu Fenyi giggled behind her hand.
“So polite, Chuyan! Soon we’ll be one family. You could even call me stepmom.”

For a brief second, Shao Yiner froze, then quickly regained her usual graceful composure. With a wave of her hand, she sent Chuyan to her room:
“Chuyan, go inside. I’ll talk with Auntie.”

Once her daughter was gone, she smiled elegantly.
“You’ve come all this way, Ms. Xu. What is it you wish to discuss?”

Xu Fenyi’s lips curved as she flaunted her ring.
“Since you asked, I’ll be blunt. Longhua just bought me this diamond ring. I’m ready to leave the industry to get married. But I hear you suddenly refused to emigrate, moved back to Jincheng, and even used his private plane. I just want to ask, are you trying to win your ex-husband back—or playing hard-to-get?”

Shao Yiner sat in her apron, bare-faced, yet her poise radiated refinement that no makeup could match. Her expression calm, she replied:
“Since you call me ‘sister,’ tell me—what kind of help do you want from me?”

Eavesdropping from her room, Chuyan silently cheered. She’d never seen her mother so unyielding before. Could it be that whenever it involved her father, she refused to compromise? Even back when he had begged her to remarry abroad, Selena had said her mother turned him down flat.

Xu Fenyi faltered. She had prepared a whole speech, but this wasn’t the reaction she expected.
“So… what do you mean?”

Shao Yiner glanced at her with calm, bright eyes.
“I’ve been away from Jincheng for ten years. The man you speak of is not someone I plan to meet. Your concerns are unnecessary.”

Clearly unconvinced, Xu Fenyi blurted:
“If I offer you benefits, will you leave Jincheng?”

Shao Yiner chuckled lightly.
“Of course not.”

Now irritated, Xu Fenyi snapped:
“Then why did you just say you’d help me?”

Seeing her verge on a tantrum, Shao Yiner rose and opened the door.
“Ms. Xu, please go. Your worries are pointless. Wouldn’t it be better to have more confidence in yourself? Go home and rest, and don’t come again.”

Xu Fenyi stood there, unwilling to give up. She had wanted to intimidate Shao Yiner, but hearing her speak so plainly made her feel foolish—like she lacked confidence over something that hadn’t even happened yet. But facing the famous Shao family’s eldest daughter, she didn’t have the guts to truly throw a fit. After some hesitation, she asked:
“Are you really telling the truth?”

Shao Yiner gave her a gentle smile.
“Of course. Goodbye, Ms. Xu.”

When the door finally shut, Chuyan darted out, looping her arm through her mother’s and giggling:
“Mom, you were so calm! Is she Dad’s new girlfriend?”

With a sigh, Shao Yiner patted her daughter’s hand, then sat back on the sofa.
“If you or Zhongyuan ever turn out as unfaithful as him, don’t expect me to acknowledge you.”

Chuyan laughed.
“As if! But you should definitely start training Xiao Yuan early—just in case.”

Her grin widened.
“Still, I didn’t expect Dad’s girlfriend to show up this fast.”

Yiner shot her a reproving look.
“This is your fault. You insisted on moving. You promised me we’d avoid the Zhao family. Now look—on the very first day, someone’s already at our door. Just imagine what the rumors will be in a few days.”

“What does it matter? You haven’t kept up with those people in years. I promise, Uncle and Aunt won’t bother you. Besides, I only did this for Zhongyuan. He’s still a kid. We rely on each other, so why not stay close to him? You can’t deny you were beaming today when you saw him.”

She pouted playfully.

The truth was, Chuyan knew her timing was safe. Grandpa’s health had recently improved, and Zhao Laoye would keep the family restrained. Everyone was focused on currying favor with the old man, so they wouldn’t dare stir trouble for her and her mother—for now. Unfortunately, the peace wouldn’t last. She remembered receiving news of his death after their very first New Year in New York…

Yiner chuckled, her thoughts interrupted.
“You little chatterbox. Enough. Tell me, how do you plan to transfer into Qiushi? Classes have already been going for half a month. Should I speak with the principal?”

Glad to change the subject, Chuyan shook her head quickly, brimming with confidence.
“No need. I’ve already scheduled an admission interview with the principal for tomorrow. You can just come along for the paperwork.”

“Really?”

Chuyan’s apple-shaped cheeks dimpled as she grinned.
“Really.”

The next morning, she rushed out with a backpack, arriving at Qiushi Middle School by seven. To her surprise, Zhongyuan was already there, waiting in a sleek black imported Lincoln Navigator parked a hundred meters from the gate.

Seeing her get out of the taxi, he waved eagerly.
“Sis, over here!”

Inside, the spacious SUV had four seats facing each other with a round rosewood table between them, plus a mini-fridge and wine cabinet.

He handed her a schoolbag, looking guilty.
“Inside are a uniform, bag, and ID card from one of my senior classmates. I gave her a bracelet and asked her to skip class today. What do you think?”

Chuyan grinned, giving him a thumbs-up.
“Not bad, kid! You’ve got potential.”

Zhongyuan scratched his head shyly but looked pleased.

Chuyan pulled out the uniform.
“Well, don’t just sit there—get out. I need to change.”

So Zhongyuan obediently stepped out to keep watch.

A moment later, Chuyan emerged in the uniform, which fit perfectly. Qiushi’s design followed the classic British style: a long black blazer over a knee-length skirt, with a white shirt and blue tie underneath. On the left br3ast was the school crest—two intertwined thorns encircling a soaring dove, symbolizing the courage to seek truth despite hardship.

By 7:40, the school entrance was swarming with students. Chuyan let her hair fall loose, lowering her head slightly to hide her face, and walked beside Zhongyuan, pretending to chat. The stern-faced guards didn’t give her a second glance.

Once inside, she asked him quietly:
“Where’s the principal’s office?”

He pointed to a gray spired building by the central fountain.
“That’s the admin building. I’ve only been there once, but I think the office is on the third floor. The door’s labeled.”

“Got it. You go to class.”

He squeezed her hand encouragingly.
“There’s assembly this morning. It’ll be over by 8:30. You’ll do great!”

She nodded, then hurried off to the admin building.

At the entrance, she slipped in among teachers heading in and out. Still, a bespectacled teacher quickly stopped her.
“Student, what are you doing here?”

Clutching her stomach, she lowered her head with a pained expression.
“Teacher, my stomach hurts. Where’s the restroom?”

The man saw her pale young face and seemed convinced. He pointed to the right corridor.
“Down to the end. But don’t use the admin building toilets next time!”

She ran off in relief, ducking into the restroom.

Checking the time—still before 8—she calmly changed back into her own clothes. She folded the borrowed uniform neatly into her bag, then pulled out her prepared resume, certificates, and a bankbook—one that had once held two hundred thousand, but now showed a remaining balance of one million.

In the mirror, her thirteen-year-old face looked doll-like, but her eyes were steady and far older than her years. In her crisp white shirt and black trousers, hair tied high in a ponytail, she flipped through the documents and whispered to herself:

“I will convince Principal Edward.”