Rebirth: Looking Back in a Sudden Realization - Chapter 15

“Zhao Chuyan, don’t be mad. I’m fine, really,” Luo Xia said nervously, hiding behind Zhao Chuyan and tugging at her sleeve. She regretted losing her temper just now and only wanted to smooth things over. After all, this girl was the top student in the first year of high school—she couldn’t afford to offend her, and she certainly didn’t want to cause trouble for her idol.

Zhao Chuyan, however, smiled. A high school freshman acting so arrogant—was she a student or a gangster? At first, she didn’t want to get involved, but then she felt it was necessary to teach the girl some manners. Without realizing it, she took on the posture of an adult and said, “Classmate, look at yourself. Where do you see the behavior of a proper young girl? Did your parents send you to Qiushi just so you could boss your classmates around? Have you thought about how disappointed your parents would be?”

Slap!

Everyone around, including Zhao Chuyan herself, froze. Her cheek burned fiercely—she couldn’t believe it. She stared in shock at the young girl in front of her. She had actually been slapped!

The girl who hit her seemed just as startled by her own action. Her raised hand froze mid-air, unsure what to do next.

Suddenly, a boy rushed in. Slap! He slapped the girl across the face and grabbed the phone she had just hung up. “Lu Linlang, are you crazy?! Do you know who she is before you dare to hit her?!”

Zhao Chuyan, still dazed from the slap, froze at the name “Lu Linlang.” She immediately recalled her mother’s old classmate, Teacher Lu. Could this be her Lu Linlang? Covering her aching face with her hands, she looked at the chaotic scene in front of her, utterly confused. The moment she tried to twitch her mouth, it hurt sharply.

The boy who slapped Lu Linlang was the same one who had teased her in class earlier, apparently named Qu Yi.

Lu Linlang’s face hurt from the slap as well, and though her long fingers covered her face, she didn’t cry out in pain. Instead, she shouted at Qu Yi, “I knew you had your eyes on her! You scoundrel who loves everyone you see!”

Qu Yi looked like he was about to lose his mind. He ran a hand through his thick black hair, frowning so intensely that his features scrunched together. How could a single class break cause so much chaos? But how dare this foolish girl hit Zhao Chuyan! He walked over to Zhao Chuyan and said seriously, “I’m sorry. I taught Linlang a lesson on your behalf, and I apologize for her. I hope you won’t take it to heart.”

Seeing his angry expression, Zhao Chuyan suddenly remembered—they had indeed met before! He was the boy who had driven without a license and nearly ran her over that day!

“It’s you!” Zhao Chuyan exclaimed, quickly covering her face with her pale hands—it hurt so much.

Qu Yi, realizing she recognized him, lowered his head obediently and said, “I’m sorry. All of this is my fault. Please don’t take it to heart!”

Luo Xia, standing nearby, was already wide-eyed, and the other students watching were stunned. How had things suddenly escalated like this?!

“Qu Yi! Apologize to your mom! Are you crazy?!” Lu Linlang screamed. In her mind, he had always been a confident, heroic boy—how could he suddenly be so spineless?!

Seeing that Zhao Chuyan’s face showed no anger, and that she seemed about to say something, Qu Yi quickly said again, sincerely, “I’m sorry,” then immediately turned and grabbed Lu Linlang, shouting, “You foolish girl! Come with me!”

By the time class resumed, Lu Linlang had been dragged out of the classroom.

Zhao Chuyan, still reeling from the slap, found everyone involved had disappeared, leaving only Luo Xia, her eyes red from worry. “I’m so sorry, Zhao Chuyan. It’s all my fault. Does it hurt? I’ll go buy an ice pop to soothe it.” Without waiting for a reply, she ran out of the classroom.

Ignoring the silent, intimidated students around her, Zhao Chuyan slumped into her seat, feeling humiliated. A 25-year-old woman had just been slapped by a 14-year-old, for no apparent reason, and hadn’t even retaliated. She touched her face and self-mocked, thinking how wasted her intelligence had been in her past life, leading such a dull existence.

When the second class teacher entered, Zhao Chuyan bit the end of her pen, glancing at the empty seats beside her. Should she get revenge later?

Unexpectedly, that wish came true sooner than she thought.

After finishing the inexplicable first day of high school, Zhao Chuyan walked out of the school gate, still holding her slightly throbbing face. She had considered visiting Zhao Chongyuan in the junior high building but decided against it.

She slowly walked outside to explore, realizing she didn’t even know the layout of the school well, having only been there twice.

Qiushi Public School was located in the northern suburbs of J City. Originally a newly developed area, the district had grown with the rise of new real estate, gradually attracting more residents and boosting the local economy. Over time, it became known as the “Northern Business District.” Several prestigious universities had established new campuses nearby, including Tianchao University of Science and Technology and Tianchao Academy of Arts. Among them, the most famous was Tianchao University, which had recently relocated its engineering campus here.

Not far from Qiushi Public School was a fairly standard commercial street, with many nearby snack stalls, gradually forming what people called “University Street.” This “University Street” was a unique feature of China, filled with various snack restaurants, KTV bars, and shops selling clothing and accessories.

Zhao Chuyan wandered along, fascinated. Having lived abroad for so long, she wasn’t used to the dense crowds in China. It was the peak of the school dismissal hour, and though the street wasn’t packed, many people had gathered. Street vendors enthusiastically set up stalls, creating a lively scene.

One stall caught her eye—a cute wooden jewelry box, hand-painted with freehand branches, birds, and flowers. It immediately captivated Zhao Chuyan. Though not expensive, it was exquisitely made.

“How much for this, sir?” Zhao Chuyan asked, picking up the box.

The vendor, a girl around eighteen or nineteen with a delicate, beautiful face and shoulder-length hair tied into a bun, looked at the box and said, “Fifty yuan.”

“Only fifty? That’s cheap!” Zhao Chuyan exclaimed, quickly rummaging through her bag for money.

The vendor laughed. “You’re not bargaining?”

“Can I bargain?” Zhao Chuyan asked, confused. This was her first time buying from a street stall. At a mall or specialty store, no one had ever told her she could bargain.

The girl smiled and pointed out, “At street stalls, you can usually get at least half off. Is this your first time?”

Zhao Chuyan nodded and handed over fifty yuan. “I really like it. Fifty is worth it.”

The vendor smiled and shook her head helplessly.

Zhao Chuyan felt a fondness for her and asked, “Excuse me, how do I get to the bus station from here?” She had decided to try things she had never done in her previous life.

Before the girl could answer, another short-haired girl ran up. “A-Ning, thanks for watching my stall!” Seeing Zhao Chuyan holding the jewelry box, she thought she was about to buy it. “Little sister, I made this box myself. You look young, so I’ll sell it to you for thirty yuan. How about that?”

A-Ning quickly pinched her, but it was too late.

Zhao Chuyan burst out laughing. “So this box is only fifteen yuan?”

A-Ning laughed too, nudging the short-haired girl beside her. “Zi Xiang, she already bought it—fifty yuan,” she said, holding up five fingers.

Zi Xiang looked embarrassed.

Zhao Chuyan smiled. “It’s fine. Fifty it is. I like it, and you made it very pretty.”

“Little sister, are you going to the bus station? I’m headed that way too; I can take you,” A-Ning said.

Zhao Chuyan liked A-Ning and nodded, following her.

A-Ning, clearly familiar with the area, quickly led her off University Street to the main road. Pointing ahead, she said, “I’ll leave you here. Cross the street, and you’ll find the bus station. Be careful.”

“Thank you. Goodbye,” Zhao Chuyan said politely.

A-Ning waved and turned to leave. But just two steps later, two black-suited men stopped in front of her. They grabbed a girl in a Qiushi Middle School uniform, walking casually less than ten meters ahead, and tried to force her away.

“Help! What are you doing?! Help!” The girl, seemingly only fourteen or fifteen, screamed and struggled desperately, terrified.

Zhao Chuyan was shocked. In broad daylight—was this a kidnapping?!

“Let her go! What are you doing?!” A-Ning rushed forward, and Zhao Chuyan followed.

The girl struggled fiercely, biting one man’s arm and kicking him between the legs. In pain, the man loosened his grip. The girl ran toward A-Ning and Zhao Chuyan.

Zhao Chuyan then realized the girl being grabbed was Lu Linlang.

Lu Linlang, noticing Zhao Chuyan, shouted, “Help me! They’re trying to take me!”

A-Ning stood protectively in front of Zhao Chuyan and Lu Linlang, immediately dialing the police. Holding the phone to her ear, she shouted at the two men, “I’m calling the police! What are you trying to do in broad daylight? You dare try to take us too?!”

Seeing they couldn’t succeed and couldn’t act violently, the men exchanged a glance, then reluctantly got back into their car and left.

A-Ning, still shaken, put down the phone and looked at the two girls. “Luckily, you’re okay. Why were they trying to grab you?”

Lu Linlang bit her lip, her face alternating pale and blue, clearly still frightened. Her beautiful fox-like eyes shimmered with tears.

Zhao Chuyan supported her and said to A-Ning, “Let’s take her somewhere nearby to rest first.”

“Sure, follow me,” A-Ning said, nodding, helping support Lu Linlang.

A-Ning led them to a nearby quiet bar called Macula5. It was still early, so the bar hadn’t opened yet. A-Ning seemed familiar with the place, took out a key, opened a side door, and led them inside.

Inside, the lighting was dim. A-Ning guided them to a window-side seat and expertly went to the bar, pouring two cups of warm water for them.

Zhao Chuyan handed a blanket to Lu Linlang, watching her trembling from fright, deeply concerned.

A-Ning sighed, looking at them. “Do you know each other?”

“Not really,” they answered simultaneously. Zhao Chuyan glanced at Lu Linlang, who awkwardly lowered her head.

“I just transferred today and happened to be her deskmate. We’re not really close,” Zhao Chuyan explained, trying to ease Lu Linlang’s embarrassment.

A-Ning nodded and looked sincerely at Lu Linlang. “I probably shouldn’t ask, but can you tell us why they were trying to grab you? What would you do if this happened again?”

Lu Linlang’s face, still pale, looked up at the genuine concern in their eyes, warmed by it, and she began to cry.