They Dumped Me—Now They’re Reincarnated and Obsessed? - Chapter 13
Friday, after class.
Xie Tingxue had just finished dropping off her homework at the teaching building. As she stepped outside, Mei Jian grabbed her hand and hushed her with a finger to his lips. He glanced furtively past the railings.
“What is it?” she whispered.
Her innocent reaction made Mei Jian smile. He tugged her along the corridor and down the back stairwell, leading her to the rear school gate.
“Are you hiding from someone? Aren’t we biking home today?” she asked.
“Biking?” Mei Jian looked stunned, reached into his pocket, and pulled out a set of keys. “I completely forgot…”
He used to ride his bike home every Friday after school—alone. Back then, he kept a deliberate distance from Tingxue out of pride and fear of gossip. He would act indifferent, all while secretly watching her, irritated by her presence and worried she might become a burden.
Yan Ze had been right—he’d been a selfish, arrogant fool.
But not this time.
Mei Jian took out a five-yuan bill. “Let me treat you to a soda.”
“Why?” Tingxue asked.
“To celebrate the weekend,” Mei Jian replied, beaming.
They went to the schoolyard kiosk, bought two bottles of orange soda, and Mei Jian popped the caps against the bench backrest, handing one to her.
Tingxue took the bottle with a thank-you and, gathering courage, praised him, “You looked really cool opening the bottle just now.”
Mei Jian turned away, hiding a smile.
He was stalling.
Yan Ze wouldn’t wait long. Once the students cleared out, if Tingxue hadn’t come out, Yan Ze would leave.
Tingxue sensed something was off. She sucked on her straw and asked, “Are you stalling?”
He paused, then chuckled, “You noticed?”
“You’re being super obvious. You never space out like that. What’s wrong? Afraid your mom will scold you again?”
She remembered how his parents, biased against the liberal arts, had forced him to promise he’d rank first in every exam or admit he’d made the wrong choice. After placing third in the first monthly test, Mei Jian had returned home not in pride, but guilt and shame.
Looking up at the sunset, Mei Jian sighed, “I used to be so weak…”
Even after trying his hardest, he still felt inadequate when he didn’t meet their expectations.
What a sad, obedient child.
Tingxue watched his expression and gently asked, “You look upset. Are you okay?”
“When you start hating yourself,” he said, “there’s no room left for happiness in your life.”
He held out his hand. “Give me the bottle.”
She handed him her empty soda and hesitated. “But why would you hate yourself? You have a loving family, you’re popular at school, the teachers like you, classmates admire you… and you’re smart too. If I were you, I’d wake up grinning every morning.”
Mei Jian stood up and turned toward her, smiling slightly. “You like someone like me?”
Tingxue felt he meant more than what he said, but brushed the thought aside. She nodded. “If I could be you, I’d be thrilled.”
“I don’t want to trade places,” Mei Jian said. “I want you to walk this kind of life with me.”
She was confused.
“Remember what I told you?” he continued. “You might not understand now. And you might come to resent me during the hard studying and strict discipline. But I’ll still do it—because it’s the right thing.”
“…You mean studying hard?”
“I mean your future,” Mei Jian said. “You’re not the type for flashy attention. You’re not cut out for a life that exposes you to harm, even if you look the part. Tingxue, do you know what the most comfortable kind of life is?”
Tingxue sang, “‘Living free and easy in the dust of the world, galloping through life and sharing its splendor’?”
He chuckled. “This isn’t the time for jokes.”
She blushed. “Sorry… You looked so serious, it was awkward. I was trying to lighten the mood.”
“A peaceful, uneventful life—calm and steady—is the most comfortable kind,” Mei Jian said. “A normal life. A stable income, a place in society, some sense of control. Nothing flashy, nothing chaotic. Just simple days, growing old together, with everything in your own hands.”
It was a side of him she’d never seen—serious, a little scary, speaking cryptically. Still, Tingxue responded earnestly, “But wouldn’t that be boring?”
“Then tell me—what’s your idea of the most comforting life?”
Blushing deeper, she replied, “I’m not telling.”
Mei Jian raised an eyebrow. “Then just skip the part about your dream partner.”
She said shyly, “Growing my hair long, wearing a beautiful white dress, reading on a college campus…”
Mei Jian laughed out loud.
Tingxue pouted. “I knew boys would mock me for that.”
Still smiling, he asked, “And your ideal type?”
“You said you wouldn’t ask!”
“But I want to know.”
“…Fine.” Tingxue hesitated, then said, “Clean and gentle. Doesn’t smoke or drink. Reads a lot, travels, likes animals and kids. Wears white shirts…”
She suddenly pictured someone and fell silent. “What about you?”
Mei Jian didn’t answer directly. Instead, he said softly, “I’m really glad you like someone who reads.”
“People who don’t study don’t have much charm,” Tingxue said seriously. “Don’t you think there’s truth to that old saying, ‘A belly full of poetry brings grace? You can see the difference.”
He closed his eyes and nodded. “Yeah, I can see it too.”
Spinning his bike key, he asked, “How about we walk home today?”
“You’re not biking?”
“The weather’s great. Let’s take a walk. We’ll be home in time for dinner… It’s been so long since I had your mom’s cooking.”
—
Meanwhile, at the school gate.
Yan Ze leaned against the doorway, arms crossed and eyebrows furrowed.
Feng Fei was growing restless, swinging one leg after the other.
“Quit shaking your legs,” Yan Ze snapped. “Ever heard the saying? Men who shake their legs end up poor.”
“I’m already poor,” Feng Fei said.
“Well, I won’t be. And you’re my friend, so no more leg-shaking. Got it?”
Feng Fei grinned and mimicked, “Let’s not speak foreign languages, OK?”
“Piss off—”
Yan Ze stopped mid-curse, remembering how Tingxue used to give him a cute eye-roll every time she caught him swearing. She’d point at him and say, “Yan Ze, I didn’t catch that. Care to repeat it for the press?”
The thought made him smile and swallow his words.
“She probably left already,” Feng Fei muttered.
“Nope. I checked with Yan Yaru. That green mountain bike in the rack still belongs to Mei Jian. If the bike’s there, he hasn’t left.”
“You planning to beat him up?”
“He stole my girl.”
“Dingxue?”
Yan Ze’s eyes went sharp. Feng Fei quickly corrected himself, “Sorry, sorry—Tingxue! Your Tingxue!”
“Now,” Yan Ze said, leaning against the gate, “I’ve got a problem. Listen up.”
With the crowd gone, Feng Fei pulled out a cigarette pack, offering Yan Ze one. “Spill.”
Yan Ze looked down at it. “Put it away. I quit.”
“…Since when?!”
“Since I decided to be her first love. She hates guys who smoke.”
“Oh, and if she likes guys who top the class, you’re gonna start acing exams too?”
“Yes,” Yan Ze said seriously. “That’s what I’m saying. She likes smart, quiet, well-read, classy guys. You think I could become that before graduation?”
“…You’re dreaming.”
“I know,” Yan Ze sighed. “Studying’s tough. Be honest—am I dumb?”
“…Uh, in what sense?”
Yan Ze glared.
“You’re smart! Seriously!” Feng Fei said. “Quick test—what’s in Lesson 7 of History?”
“Enlightenment.”
“Lesson 3?”
“Neo-Confucianism in Song and Ming.”
“Lesson 11?”
“Scientific advances in modern times—especially physics.”
“See? You’re not dumb. You’ve got a great memory!”
Yan Ze: “…”
That was just from memorizing scripts.
“…Wait a sec,” he scowled. “You tricked me! That’s just the table of contents! Everyone can do that!”
“Not really. Watch this—”
Feng Fei ran off and dragged a girl over. “No worries, Yan Ze’s just got a few questions. What lesson are you on in History?”
She thought a while. “We’re around the Enlightenment…”
“And what number is that?”
“…Sixth or seventh?”
“What was Lesson 3?”
“…I don’t really remember.”
“It’s Neo-Confucianism. How many key figures?”
“Three?”
“Who are the Five Northern Song Scholars?”
“That’s in the small print… our teacher said it wouldn’t be on the test…”
Yan Ze snapped, “So if it’s not on the test, you won’t read it? They printed it in the textbook for a reason! You’re wasting time not studying properly! And you still placed ninth?”
The girl’s eyes welled with tears.
Feng Fei gawked. “Yan Ze… you sound like a teacher!”
Yan Ze waved her away. “Study harder next time!”
Feng Fei, trembling, offered him another cigarette. “Want one to calm down?”
“NO. I said I quit. She’s got a heart condition—she can’t stand the smell!”
“…Got it.”
The students had all gone.
The silver-grey sedan outside the gate honked. The window rolled down, and Yan Ze’s mom chirped, “Sweetie~ Mommy’s here! Let’s go home and have hotpot!”
Yan Ze sighed. “Damn… miscalculated. Looks like Mei Jian ran off with my girl.”
He clapped Feng Fei on the back. “Come to my place for dinner?”
Feng Fei stared at the fancy car and glamorous mom. “Maybe not…”
“Get in. Your parents aren’t in town, right?”
Feng Fei’s parents were always traveling for business, leaving him with relatives.
“You said we’re brothers, right? Sleep over. Tell your folks you’re staying with me. Wherever I go tomorrow, you come too.”
Feng Fei thought he meant gaming. “Sure!”
Yan Ze slid into the car like a general taking command. “Mom, to the barbershop. Cut his hair.”
His mom chirped, “Got it!”
“Wait—what?!”