Wife, I’ve Been Reborn (GL) - Chapter 15
Chapter 15
Post-Exam Reflections and a Girls’ Day Out
After lunch break, Mu Nan was flipping through old textbooks. She’d forgotten many of the key concepts. When she came across a part she didn’t understand, she instinctively said, “Xu Liangchen…” She looked up and saw Xu Liangchen wasn’t in her seat. As she looked around, puzzled, she saw Xu Liangchen enter the classroom, looking a bit unwell. Behind her followed a mild-mannered Zhao Shi.
Mu Nan wanted to go talk to Xu Liangchen, but then she heard someone call her name. She turned her head; it was Chen Jiao. Chen Jiao waved her small hand. “Mu Nan, over here!” Mu Nan walked over to her. Chen Jiao pulled her arm, making her bend down, and whispered in her ear, “Want to go out after the exams?”
“Go out?” Chen Jiao nodded, her eyes twinkling as she looked at Mu Nan. After the exams, it would be the weekend, a one-day holiday. Usually, they would definitely have a blast. But… Mu Nan glanced at the study materials on her desk. She shook her head. “Maybe not. I still have so many problems to do.” Chen Jiao glared at her, her tone resentful. “You haven’t been paying attention to me lately!” Mu Nan quickly soothed her. “Nonsense! You’re still my favorite, mwah!”
The two were playfully bickering. Xu Liangchen glanced at them, then withdrew her gaze, sat on her stool, and looked out the window. Mu Nan watched her actions, outwardly agreeing with Chen Jiao. “Alright, alright, whatever you say.” Chen Jiao patted her shoulder. “It’s settled then! I’ll pick you up on Sunday, wait for me at home.”
“Huh?” “What’s wrong, are you going back on your word?” Chen Jiao had a look that said, if you go back on your word, I’ll eat you. Mu Nan shook her head. It’s just one day out, surely nothing will happen. Why did she feel so guilty, like she was going out to steal something? Mu Nan shook off the chaotic thoughts in her head. It must be because she had promised Xu Liangchen to do homework at home this weekend. Being a good student is hard, really hard.
As soon as she sat down, Xu Liangchen asked, “Have you finished all the test papers?” Mu Nan felt an inexplicable happiness at her attention and replied with a playful grin, “No, I don’t know how to do them.” Xu Liangchen looked serious, taking the problems Mu Nan handed her. “Where are you stuck?” Mu Nan’s smile widened. “Stuck everywhere.” Xu Liangchen could tell she was teasing her and glared at her, annoyed. “Be serious.” “Oh…”
Compared to the easy morning exam, the afternoon was pure agony. English was tested in the afternoon, and Mu Nan simply didn’t understand anything she looked at, making mistakes everywhere she tried to fill in. She stared wide-eyed at the answer sheet, having no idea where to start. Individually, these letters were all recognizable, but put together, she couldn’t understand a single word. Sigh… Time vaguely passed for the most part amidst her sighs. Mu Nan just blindly guessed the multiple-choice answers, and the final essay was pure nonsense. She wondered what the teacher would think when they saw it. Probably burst out laughing.
After the afternoon exam, there was no evening self-study, so they could go home after class. Mu Nan was just waiting for the bell to ring. Her butt was getting sore from sitting. As soon as class was dismissed, she shot out like an arrow from a bow. Xu Liangchen was standing at the doorway and was hit head-on. Mu Nan practically flew into her arms. Xu Liangchen stumbled back two steps, embracing the warm, soft figure. Mu Nan’s scent enveloped her. Xu Liangchen instinctively wanted to push her away but resisted, then acted as if nothing happened. “What do you want?” Mu Nan, unusually, acted coquettishly, looping her arm through Xu Liangchen’s and walking into the classroom. “Nothing, I just really missed you!”
“Crazy.” Xu Liangchen’s words were subtly tinged with a smile.
…
Chen Jiao’s Confession and a Friendship Tested
After school, the two walked home together. Mu Nan went to call Chen Jiao, but Chen Jiao told her to go ahead, saying she had something to do. Mu Nan shrugged indifferently and walked out of the classroom behind Xu Liangchen.
Seeing Mu Nan leave, Chen Jiao scurried to the rooftop to meet Zhao Shi. Zhao Shi was standing at the edge of the rooftop, looking dispirited. Chen Jiao’s heart ached a little at the sight. It hurt. Chen Jiao walked towards him and quietly called out, “Zhao Shi.” Zhao Shi turned his head, saw Chen Jiao approaching, and forced a smile. “Did she agree?” Chen Jiao nodded. “Mm.” Zhao Shi lowered his head, a shadow fleeting across his eyes, then smiled gently at Chen Jiao. “Thank you.” Chen Jiao quickly waved her hands. Her gaze followed Zhao Shi’s every move.
Zhao Shi was much better looking than most boys, with red lips and white teeth, and his eyes curved into a smile when he laughed. His demeanor was gentle, especially when he spoke to her, his eyes looking at her so tenderly that it felt as if she would drown. Chen Jiao felt her heart pound. A blush crept onto her cheeks. Zhao Shi glanced down at her, saw her expression, and naturally knew what she was thinking. His gaze grew even more tender. “If only Mu Nan were like you…”
Chen Jiao came back to her senses somewhat when she heard Mu Nan’s name and stammered, “Mu Mu just hasn’t seen your good side yet…” Seen your good side. Who would ever let go then? Zhao Shi sighed. “Let’s go, I’ll walk you home.” Chen Jiao nodded haphazardly, her eyes fixed on the back of the boy walking ahead. She opened her mouth to say something but couldn’t. What could she say? He liked Mu Nan. Her best friend. She didn’t even have the right to compete.
Thinking of this, Chen Jiao couldn’t help but feel angry. And Mu Nan didn’t even cherish it! This Sunday, she absolutely had to talk some sense into Mu Nan. Zhao Shi walked Chen Jiao all the way to her doorstep and waved goodbye. Chen Jiao watched his figure disappear from view, feeling an inevitable sense of loss. She was sullen and unhappy when she got home. She barely ate any dinner.
…
A Late-Night Call and a Misunderstanding
That night, as she was about to go to sleep, she tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. After thinking for a long time, she got up and called Mu Nan. Mu Nan on the other end of the phone was still in a daze. Chen Jiao bit her lip, hesitated several times, then finally hardened her heart and asked, “Nannan, do you really not like Zhao Shi?”
Mu Nan was groggy from sleep. She picked up the phone when it rang and realized it was Chen Jiao. She was still wondering what Chen Jiao wanted when she heard that question. Isn’t that obvious? “Of course not.” Chen Jiao bit her lip and continued, “Then… will you let me have Zhao Shi?” Mu Nan was now fully awake, her mind blank for a second. “You like Zhao Shi?” There was no reaction from the other end of the phone, apparently an unspoken affirmation. Mu Nan didn’t know how to reply. “Xu Liangchen said he’s not a good person, though…”
Chen Jiao got a little angry. “Xu Liangchen, Xu Liangchen! Why do you listen to Xu Liangchen for everything?!” The phone clicked, cut off. Mu Nan held the phone, staring blankly. Did she say something wrong?
Chen Jiao hung up the phone, hitting her own head angrily. Overthinking, stop overthinking. And she even told Mu Nan about this. How will she fix this now?!
The next day, as she left her house, she saw Mu Nan standing right at her doorstep. Mu Nan was kicking pebbles, looking around, occasionally checking her digital watch. Why wasn’t Chen Jiao coming out yet? Just as Mu Nan frowned and looked around again, she saw Chen Jiao slowly walk out the door. She took two steps forward and grabbed Chen Jiao’s shoulder. “Come on, hurry, we’ll be late.” Chen Jiao felt a little grateful that Mu Nan didn’t mention last night’s conversation, and she said nothing, following Mu Nan.
The atmosphere between them was a bit awkward. Finally, Chen Jiao broke the silence. “I’m sorry about last night.” Mu Nan had a headache over this. She still couldn’t believe Chen Jiao would actually like that guy Zhao Shi. Didn’t she say he wasn’t up to standard before? But seeing Chen Jiao apologize so meekly, Mu Nan’s heart softened again. “What are you apologizing for? Do we really need to say such things to each other?” Chen Jiao looked at Mu Nan’s expression and, seeing that she truly didn’t care, slowly relaxed.
“Zhao Shi likes you…” Mu Nan turned and grabbed her shoulders, her expression very serious. “Jiaojiao, if you like him, go for it. If you really can’t, I’ll help you, but Zhao Shi and I are impossible, truly.” Chen Jiao’s eyes showed a hint of a smile, her lips curving. “Really?” Mu Nan nodded. “Mm.”
The two were in good spirits when they arrived at school. Mu Nan was finally rid of Zhao Shi, and Chen Jiao had finally decided to pursue Zhao Shi. And Zhao Shi, he was still completely unaware of any of this.
…
Zhao Shi: What happened? Did I sleep through a world change?