Who Would Fall in Love After Being Reborn?

TL: Etude

Autumn is a season suitable for romance, as the autumn leaves throughout the campus have turned golden yellow, presenting a unique charm.

During this season, at Linchuan University, one could easily spot couples strolling along walkways piled with fallen leaves, their love imbued with a flair akin to idol dramas amidst the desolate autumn wind.

However, Gao Wenhui was not happy.

She had no interest in dating; she just wanted to ship couples.

Based on her observations over the week, Jiang Qin appeared less frequently, while Feng Nanshu became increasingly silent.

Her daily routine of attending classes, eating, and sleeping was carried out expressionlessly, lacking her previous vivacity and liveliness.

Whispers circulated among the students of Finance Class 4, speculating that Feng Nanshu and Jiang Qin had broken up, which seemed to explain her growing aloofness.

But what they didn’t know was that this was actually Feng Nanshu’s true nature.

Her expression was cold like the moonlight on a frosty night, her gaze as frozen as the snow, seemingly detached from the world, confining her heart to a tiny world of her own.

That world was heavily guarded, locked with the strongest of locks, to which even she did not possess the key.

As dusk fell after sunset, the last class of Finance Class 4 ended.

Feng Nanshu, holding her books, silently walked out of the lecture hall. After returning to her dormitory and taking off her small leather shoes, she quietly climbed onto her bed. Sitting on the edge, she stared blankly out the window. Her feet, clad in white socks, rested on the bed, no longer swinging playfully as before, but instead hung limply.

The nights of autumn were arriving earlier, and the dusk sky became increasingly magnificent.

The little rich lady’s eyes reflected the fiery red sky, her delicate, curled eyelashes gradually taking on an enchanting rose gold hue.

“Nanshu, are you unhappy?” Gao Wenhui couldn’t help but ask.

“Jiang Qin doesn’t hang out with me anymore.”

Feng Nanshu’s voice was soft and serene, her gaze following a bird outside the window towards the distance, lending a somewhat wistful look to her eyes.

Gao Wenhui squinted her eyes and said, “That damn Jiang Qin, should I find someone to take him out?”

“No!”

“You can’t even bear the thought of it, can you?”

Feng Nanshu continued to gaze outside, but nodded affirmatively.

Gao Wenhui was actually aware of why Jiang Qin had been absent recently. She knew he was busy with some off-campus promotion, shuttling back and forth between Linchuan University and Technology University, barely having time to even drink water, so she couldn’t really blame him.

Reportedly, his absenteeism in Advanced Mathematics was reaching critical levels, almost as if he had given up.

But she never imagined that Jiang Qin’s absence would affect Feng Nanshu so profoundly, reminiscent of the early days of their friendship.

Every time they discussed going out for movies or karaoke, Feng Nanshu would shake her head, insisting that Jiang Qin would surely take her, as if he was the only one in the world who could truly protect her.

Gao Wenhui had even encouraged Feng Nanshu a few times to call Jiang Qin, to do whatever it took to bring him back, whether by feigning illness or acting coquettishly.

But Feng Nanshu disagreed, because Jiang Qin had said he was very busy and wanted her to behave, suggesting she reluctantly hang out with Gao Wenhui if she felt bored.

Gao Wenhui was furious, thinking, “Is that something a human would say?”

And, can the companionship of a best friend really replace dependence on a boyfriend?

Fan Shuling returned from the cafeteria and couldn’t help but ask Gao Wenhui, “What’s with Nanshu?”

“She’s missing Jiang Qin. Thinks about him during the day, at night, and even more so while washing her feet.”

“???”

Feng Nanshu spoke expressionlessly, “Wenhui, it’s because today’s sunset is exceptionally beautiful, worth admiring.”

Gao Wenhui couldn’t take it anymore. “Give it up, admitting you miss him won’t bother him!”

“Has Jiang Qin really not been here recently?” Fan Shuling couldn’t help but ask.

“He’s come twice, but each time he was in a hurry and didn’t even have time for extra words. Last time he even snatched a chicken leg from my meal – the only meat dish I had – it infuriated me!”

“That’s so mean, sounds like something he would do.”

Feng Nanshu turned her head slightly annoyed, “I already gave it back to you, and bought you two more.”

Gao Wenhui was momentarily speechless, “Okay, okay, I get it. I won’t speak ill of your man anymore, happy?”

“You also can’t kill him.”

“…”

While they were talking, shouts suddenly came from outside the window, clearly calling out “boss lady”. This term was rare in the school, prompting numerous girls to open their windows and look out, curious about who was being called.

Gao Wenhui, usually quick-witted, was caught off guard by the term. Just as she was about to look out the window, she found Feng Nanshu had already put on her shoes and run out of the dormitory.

Meanwhile, in Room 505 of the Finance Department.

Jiang Tian, Jian Chun, and Song Qingqing also opened their windows, searching for the source of the voice. They were a bit stunned when they spotted Feng Nanshu. Ever since the South Street hit-and-run incident, they knew about Jiang Qin being the owner of Zhihu.

So, calling Feng Nanshu “boss lady” wasn’t really a problem.

The term was neutral, unlike terms like “top student”, “goddess”, or “campus belle” which carried a certain praise. However, for some reason, they were filled with envy and jealousy at this title.

How wonderful it would be if they were called that – Jiang Tian thought so, Song Qing Qing thought so, and even Jian Chun, though reluctant to admit, had thought the same for a second.

Five minutes later, Feng Nanshu returned to the dormitory, holding a team-building photo album, her eyes somewhat bright.

“What’s this?”

“Xuemei brought it. She’s a good person.” Feng Nanshu placed the album on the table.

Gao Wenhui and Fan Shuling, curious, came closer and saw many unfamiliar faces. They first thought it was some promotional booklet, but then they realized it was a completed photo book when they saw the pictures of Feng Nanshu and Jiang Qin.

They didn’t know the people from Room 208 well, so they flipped through quickly, focusing only on photos with Feng Nanshu and Jiang Qin.

However, just as they were about to flip past the third-to-last page, a slender and fair hand suddenly stopped them.

Feng Nanshu leaned in close, her eyes fixed on the page, her mouth slowly opening.

“Who’s this bear climbing trees to steal honey?” Gao Wenhui asked curiously.

Hearing this, Feng Nanshu raised her head with a shocked expression.

Gao Wenhui instantly understood, “Okay, I get it. Seeing your unhappy face, that bear must be Jiang Qin.”

Fan Shuling also leaned in curiously, “What’s Jiang Qin doing?”

“Climbing a tree.”

“It doesn’t look like an ordinary tree; are the leaves red?”

Gao Wenhui, leaning closer, suddenly realized, “Oh my God, isn’t that the tree hung with wishes for love in scenic spots?”

“Definitely. Look, Jiang Qin is hanging a sign up there,” pointed out Fan Shuling.

Gao Wenhui’s spirits lifted immediately, “This is the kind of drama I love!”

“What is dog food?”

“Jiang Qin says single people are called ‘single dogs’, and being showered with couples’ displays of affection is like eating ‘dog food’. Hey, Nanshu, why aren’t you in the photo?”

As Gao Wenhui asked, she looked up but found Feng Nanshu pressing a hand to her chest, staring blankly out the window, her mind seemingly far away.

While the little rich lady had time to daydream, Jiang Qin was far too busy. He hadn’t anticipated the importance that Technology University placed on work-study programs, almost excessively so. They demanded his initial project proposal, a formal document from Professor Yan, and finally, a detailed work-study plan from Jiang Qin himself.

After making three trips back and forth, Jiang Qin finally gathered all the necessary documents, grumbling to himself about the exhausting process. “Why is it so difficult to get a little advantage?”

“Brother, have some water,” Cao Xinyue offered him a cup.

Jiang Qin, upon hearing this, felt it made sense. “Right, it’d be awful to die without spending any money.”

“Better go take a nap.”

“I’ll head off then. Remember to get someone to fix the window in Room 207.”

Jiang Qin was concerned about the drafty window, reminding Cao Xinyue once more before heading back to Room 207 to sleep.

Tang Lin watched Jiang Qin leave, barely suppressing a laugh. She thought it was obvious what he was up to. He’d never visited the general office before, but recently he’d been coming almost daily.

He couldn’t possibly be doing all this for himself; it must be for the campus beauty’s best friend.

She didn’t know that Jiang Qin was navigating through the work-study channel, as his project was overseen by Cao Xinyue. To her, it seemed suspicious that he’d divide the task into three parts when it could’ve been done in one.

But she was right about one thing – he was indeed on the right path.

Why? Because to chase a girl, you need to constantly make your presence felt. If you don’t even have presence, how can you hope to gain her affection? It’s all part of the strategy.

“Tang Lin, you might as well staple my hand,” Cao Xinyue said, glaring at her.

Tang Lin quickly came back to her senses, moving the stapler away. “Sorry, I got distracted.”

“It’s good to be thoughtful, but being absent-minded isn’t. You could easily make mistakes that way.”

“I just find it funny to see boys clumsily trying to make their presence felt around Hong Yan.”

“Who?”

“That Jiang Qin who just left.”

Cao Xinyue looked at her as if she were a fool, thinking Hong Yan was indeed beautiful, ranked as the fourth campus beauty, and even more impressive given her transfer disadvantage. But had she heard of Feng Nanshu?

Just then, Hong Yan returned from the restroom, noticing Jiang Qin had left the office. She couldn’t help feeling a slight sense of loss.

“Hong Yan, Xue Gang has invited you to dinner.”

“Please decline for me, I won’t go.”

Tang Lin sighed, refusing the invitation from Xue Gang, the vice-chair of the International Trade Department, on behalf of Hong Yan. She thought to herself, it’s not that I’m ungrateful for your treats and unwilling to help, but my best friend is just too hard to impress.

…

TL: Damn, Feng Nanshu is so cute…

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