Who Would Fall in Love After Being Reborn?

TL: Etude

“You really have to wonder about Jiang’s background. How can he have two school beauties fighting over him to death? I just can’t figure it out.”

“I can’t figure it out either. He’s just a bit handsome, has fair skin, spends money like crazy, and talks a lot of flirty nonsense. What else does he have? How can he compare to us good guys?”

In dorm 302 of the Finance Department, Ren Ziqiang and Zhou Chao had been pondering this matter ever since they returned from the restaurant, as if they were studying a secret martial arts manual.

They couldn’t imagine why girls of that caliber, who should be as cool and distant as moonlight, were so pitiful in front of Jiang Qin. Jiang, on the other hand, seemed indifferent and annoyed, his coolness leaving them tongue-tied.

Shouldn’t such girls be treated with utmost care, as if they were too precious to drop or melt in one’s mouth?

Yet, Jiang could just get up and leave without a second thought, showing no emotional attachment, while the girls would run after him, crying and begging him not to go.

If they could learn this trick, wouldn’t they rule the school?

Cao Guangyu thought they were being utterly foolish. “You haven’t even learned his internal skills, and you’re just focused on his superficial tactics. Even if you study them for a lifetime, you’ll get nowhere. Haven’t you heard that just getting beaten up doesn’t make you a martial arts master?”

“Old Cao.”

“What’s up?”

Zhou Chao looked at him intently: “You’re a rich second-generation, you’ve seen more of the world. Tell us, why is it?”

Cao Guangyu had been in a state of despair all afternoon, and he still looked half-dead: “You guys have already figured out the reasons. Why ask me?”

“When did I figure it out?” Zhou Chao looked puzzledly at Ren Ziqiang.

Ren Ziqiang was also confused: “What reason? I don’t know what you’re talking about?”

“He’s handsome, has fair skin, spends a lot of money, and talks a lot of flirty nonsense. Isn’t that enough? Out of these four, do you even have one?”

Zhou Chao fell silent for a moment: “But I feel like I have all four.”

Cao Guangyu sneered: “Get lost.”

“No, Old Cao, something’s off with you.”

“What’s off about me?”

Ren Ziqiang observed him closely, more convinced of his judgment: “We might have lost, but you never respected Jiang. Why are you acting like a defeated dog today, not even daring to boast? You’re only boosting his ego and diminishing your own prestige.”

Hearing this, Cao Guangyu became visibly irritated, muttered some curses, then turned over in bed, covering his head with the blanket.

The truth was, the lunch hadn’t caused much harm to Ren Ziqiang and Zhou Chao, merely exposing them to life’s inequalities a bit earlier. But for Cao Guangyu, it was a fatal blow.

Even if Jiang won over Song Qingqing and Jiang Tian, Cao Guangyu wouldn’t admit defeat. How could he, a rich second-generation, be inferior to Jiang?

But Hong Yan was different; she was the dream of every male student at Hang City No.1 Middle School.

Cao Guangyu was no exception.

Hong Yan was his most cherished unrequited love, the pure white jasmine of his heart, the beautiful vision of his youth, when his emotions were budding but his mind was not yet mature.

Throughout high school, Cao Guangyu never had a girlfriend. He was just a kid who dared only say hello to Hong Yan on QQ. Learning that Hong Yan liked Jiang Qin shattered his dream of pure love.

Since the beginning of the school year, Jiang had been outdoing him in everything, but Cao Guangyu never admitted defeat. But this time, he was genuinely dazed by the blow.

“Old Cao, what’s wrong with you? Did that scoundrel Jiang shake your confidence?”

“Don’t be sad, Old Cao. When Jiang comes back, we’ll deal with him together!”

As they spoke, the door to room 302 suddenly opened. Jiang Qin stepped in, and as he looked up, he saw Ren Ziqiang and Zhou Chao walking over with stern faces.

Then they started pulling up chairs, offering slippers, almost ready to take off Jiang’s socks for him.

“Dad, when are we starting the lesson?”

Cao Guangyu threw off his blanket, looking furiously at his roommates: “Ren, Zhou, have you both lost your dignity?”

Zhou Chao looked up at Cao Guangyu sitting on the bed: “What’s dignity? Isn’t a wife more fragrant?”

“Ren, are you living up to your name?” Cao Guangyu switched his target.

Ren Ziqiang (meaning resolute or smth) stood tall and proud: “I didn’t agree with the name my dad gave me, but I had no say in it.”

Jiang Qin didn’t even need to ask to know what they were thinking. They were just unable to accept their disappointment after waking up from their delusions, questioning others and then themselves.

“Fine, bring your chairs over. Since I’m in a good mood today, I’ll give you a good talk.”

Zhou Chao and Ren Ziqiang hurriedly moved their chairs, and even Cao Guangyu, after putting on airs for so long, couldn’t resist joining in. He leaned against the wardrobe without moving a chair, preserving the last bit of his dignity.

Then Jiang Qin sat down and candidly shared his experience of liking Chu Siqi for three years in high school but being rejected when he confessed.

Honestly, there was nothing embarrassing about it.

What’s the greatest strength of a man approaching forty? It’s learning to reconcile with oneself.

Reconciling with one’s younger self, accepting that loving the wrong person isn’t your fault; with one’s middle-aged self, acknowledging that not making money isn’t your fault; and even with one’s older self, admitting that leaving behind regrets isn’t your fault.

In a world full of disappointments, if you can’t reconcile with yourself and accept your mediocrity and failures, you simply can’t survive.

At that moment, a spark returned to Cao Guangyu’s eyes.

“Old Jiang, you’ve also had an unrequited love?”

Jiang Qin curled his lips: “Why do you sound so schadenfreude?”

Cao Guangyu suddenly felt a surge of confidence, even smiling smugly: “You should have said so earlier. We’re all brothers in the same boat!”

Jiang Qin was amused: How could there be such a twist in this conversation?

“Old Cao, that’s a subtle way to put it. You have a story too?”

“Alright, I’ll share mine too.”

With Jiang Qin’s prelude, Cao Guangyu no longer hid his feelings. He thoroughly shared his affection for Hong Yan and even admitted to never having a girlfriend. He felt somewhat proud, as if he was finally on par with Jiang Qin.

He didn’t know why competing with Jiang Qin made him proud, but it just did.

After he finished, Zhou Chao and Ren Ziqiang looked at him strangely.

“What’s wrong?” Cao Guangyu was confused.

“That’s it, and you think you can compare with Old Jiang? I’m embarrassed for you!”

“How am I embarrassing?” Cao Guangyu defiantly asked.

Ren Ziqiang smirked: “Although you both had unrequited loves for three years, look at Jiang. Just a few words could drive Chu Siqi crazy. And you? You sat in the restaurant for two hours, and Hong Yan doesn’t even know who you are.”

Zhou Chao patted his shoulder: “Jiang, although he didn’t date Chu Siqi, at least Hong Yan likes him. What do you have?”

At that moment, Jiang Qin delivered the final blow: “Old Cao, I’m a bit disappointed in you.”

“?????”

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