They Dumped Me—Now They’re Reincarnated and Obsessed? - Chapter 9.1
Yan Ze climbed into the car and began rummaging through the bag of clothes his mom had brought. He frowned.
“No skull prints. No neon lettering either… No, Mom, I want normal clothes!”
His mom looked at him in confusion. “Son, what happened to you? What kind of shock did you go through?”
“You’ve been buying me these clothes all along—don’t you think they’re hideous? Totally low-class. They ruin my vibe!”
His mother sighed. “I only bought them because you used to like them. I always wished you liked my taste, but you never listened. And I didn’t want to argue. Arguing gives you wrinkles.”
“…Just buy me new ones,” Yan Ze said.
“I’ll take you shopping now,” she said, then added with a hopeful look, “Zezé, can I make a tiny suggestion?”
“Go ahead.”
“Let’s fix that hairstyle too, okay? Or else your teacher’s going to shave it off into some horrible crew cut…”
“I’d love that,” Yan Ze said. “Which salon can I trust? I need to dye it back.”
His mother took both hands off the wheel and raised them in celebration. “Thank the heavens! My son’s aesthetic sense has finally recovered! I’ve been holding it in for two years, afraid to say anything in case you rebelled. I nearly died keeping quiet!”
“Eyes on the road!!” Yan Ze cried.
“Zezé, please let me handle it this time! I need to fix your atrocious fashion sense!”
Yan Ze chuckled. “I trust you. Madame Yang’s fashion taste is unmatched.”
“Exactly!” she said, full of pride. “I’ve always known what looks good! This winter break—how about picking up piano again? Or if not that, maybe try finishing those violin lessons you abandoned? I swear, once you master either, your temperament will be…”
She made a circle in the air. “Unstoppable!”
“As long as you don’t make me do opera,” Yan Ze said with a smirk. “Anything else, I’ll try.”
“You’re amazing!” his mom beamed. “I’ve waited years for this day! Zezé, listen to me—if you dress properly, when your dad comes back this month, the two of us will stun him! Hahaha!”
His mom drove off in such high spirits, the car practically left a trail of celebratory fireworks behind it.
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Meanwhile, Mei Jian skipped PE class to tutor Xie Tingxue in math.
“No rush,” he said. “We’ll start with sequences. I’ll help you understand them, not just memorize formulas. That’s useless.”
“Okay…” Xie Tingxue listened, cheeks flushed.
Thirty minutes later, Mei Jian glanced at his watch and stood up with his lunchbox. “I’m going to get food.”
Since returning to school, Mei Jian simply couldn’t lower his standards. Every day at lunch, he would rather starve than run with the other boys to fight for food.
“So undignified,” he thought.
He’d observed how Yan Ze handled lunch. To his frustration, Yan Ze had it even better. He didn’t run. He didn’t wait in line. He just sat in the classroom while his little group of spiky-haired minions from Class 10 fetched food for him.
Yan Ze sat still and somehow maintained the dignity of an adult dining at high school.
Dignified but minion-less Mei Jian: “…Fine. You win.”
Back in the classroom, Xie Tingxue was alone and in relatively good spirits.
After morning reading, her roommates had reported what happened last night to the homeroom teacher, Mr. Cai. This time, the teacher took it seriously. He summoned Li Yuyang and confronted her. Li Yuyang pointed at Xie Tingxue, accusing her of splashing water on her own bed to frame her. She then launched into a vile tirade, using crude language so shocking the teachers in the office were stunned.
Mr. Cai gave her a stern reprimand, called her father, and had her suspended for two days to reflect at home, while also arranging a dorm transfer.
During break, Li Yuyang packed up and stormed out, cursing and slamming things as she left.
Xie Tingxue finally felt a wave of relief. Mei Jian had smiled and said, “Feeling better now? See? Everything is turning around. Focus on your studies.”
Xie Tingxue waited in the classroom while Mei Jian went to get lunch. Then the homeroom teacher knocked and said, “Xie Tingxue, your mom’s at the gate—she called just now. Go on, she’s waiting.”
She rushed downstairs to the school gate. Sure enough, her mother was there with a large bag in hand. When she saw her daughter, her eyes filled with tears and she smiled.
“Have you been studying well?”
Xie Tingxue nodded enthusiastically.
Her mother said, “I’m heading back to Director Mei’s place now. You can come home Friday after school. Your uncle and aunt are doing well… I just wanted to see you and bring some food for you and Mei Jian.”
She opened the plastic bag—inside were her homemade chili sauce and steamed buns.
“Perfect! I’ve been craving this!” Xie Tingxue said.
Just then, a car pulled in. The door opened, and a long leg stepped out.
Xie Tingxue glanced over—and froze.
Yan Ze was dressed in a clean, crisp white shirt, with proper, simple trousers. His black hair was soft and neat. He looked like… like a polished, stylish honor student.
Her mother pulled out two red insoles embroidered with the phrase “Strive Every Day.”
“I also made two pairs of insoles for Mei Jian… not sure if he’ll use them, but give them to him anyway. Boys wear through shoes fast. Changing insoles often is more comfortable.”
“…I want some too. Why does Auntie make insoles for him but not for me?”
A pair of slender, clean fingers reached out in front of her.
Startled, her mother looked up and saw a tall, handsome boy in a white shirt, bright and wholesome.
Yan Ze said sweetly, “I want Auntie’s insoles too. And your chili sauce, please…”
Her mother turned to her daughter. “Is he your classmate?”
Still stunned, Xie Tingxue wanted to scold him, but couldn’t find the words. She blinked and nodded. “Yeah… he’s my classmate.”
Her mother smiled. “Ah, one of Xiao Xue’s classmates. He looks like such a good kid.”
She cheerfully handed him a bottle of chili sauce and a pair of insoles. “Here, take these. If you like it, let Xiao Xue know and I’ll make more for you. Want some buns? They’re still warm.”
“Mooom!” Xie Tingxue protested.
Yan Ze’s eyes curved into happy crescents. “Yes, please! I love everything Auntie makes.”
Her mom added warmly, “Look after Xiao Xue at school. Her health isn’t great… is she studying well?”
Yan Ze replied gently, “She’s very hardworking, Auntie. Don’t worry—I’ll take good care of her.”
“Are your grades better than hers?” her mother asked.
Yan Ze hesitated, then smiled. “I’m ranked first—though I just transferred from the science track to liberal arts.”
Xie Tingxue was dumbstruck.
Her mother nodded with satisfaction. “Help each other in your studies. Keep each other on track.”
“I will,” Yan Ze promised. “I can’t just accept Auntie’s chili sauce and insoles for nothing—I’ll help Xiao Xue for sure!”
So Mom… could you maybe stop making chili sauce and insoles for that Mei guy? They used to be mine! I’m jealous here!!