Rebirth Begins with Rejecting My Childhood Friend

Shen Minyao's eyes flickered with a trace of shame.

"I…"

Xu Xiuwen, seeing her expression, let out a sigh of relief.

He was really afraid that Shen Minyao would let her emotions override her reason, disregarding everything for love.

Xu Xiuwen spoke calmly, "What happened just now, I'll pretend it never occurred. If you don't want Weiwei to feel hurt, I hope you'll keep your wits about you and not do something like this again in the future."

Shen Minyao remained silent after hearing this. She neither agreed nor refused directly.

Just as Xu Xiuwen was about to say something else, there was a sudden "knock, knock, knock" on the door of the hospital room.

Following the knocks, a voice came from outside, "Excuse me, is Xu Xiuwen inside?"

Someone was here!

Shen Minyao reacted as if she were a startled kitten, immediately jumping away from the side of the hospital bed.

She hurriedly sat down to the side, brushed her hair back, and smoothed the creases on her clothes.

Xu Xiuwen recognized the voice immediately—it was Jin Haonan.

He quickly raised his voice and replied, "Brother Hao, I'm here."

The next second, the door to the hospital room opened from the outside.

Jin Haonan walked in first, followed by Wang Juncai, Liu Zhihao, Shi Xiangming, and Yang Baishan.

"Xiuwen, we've come to see you." Jin Haonan walked in carrying a bag of fruit. "This is from all of us. We pitched in to buy it for you—hope you get better soon."

"Brother Hao, you're too kind. You didn't need to bring anything just to visit me. But thank you!"

"No need for formalities with us. How are you feeling now?"

"My arm got burned, but it's not serious. I'll recover with some time."

"That's good to hear. You really scared us today." Jin Haonan let out a breath of relief.

Wang Juncai gave Xu Xiuwen a thumbs-up. "Xiuwen, you're the bravest guy I've ever met. If it were me in that situation, I don't think I'd have dared to rush into the fire."

Xu Xiuwen chuckled lightly. "Just an impulsive act. It's nothing worth mentioning."

Yang Baishan couldn't help but add, "Xiuwen, stop being so modest. You really impressed us today. You were amazing."

Shi Xiangming nodded in agreement.

Suddenly, Yang Baishan turned to Liu Zhihao and said, "Liu Ge, why aren't you saying anything? Xiuwen saved Shen Minyao today. Don't you have something to say?"

Caught off guard by the question, Liu Zhihao froze for a moment.

"Uh, Xiuwen, thank you for saving Minyao today."

At the mention of the name "Minyao," Xu Xiuwen's brow twitched slightly.

Even though he had just sternly rejected Shen Minyao moments ago, hearing Liu Zhihao address her so intimately still left him feeling uncomfortable.

Perhaps all men have this contradictory nature.

Xu Xiuwen maintained his composure and responded with a smile, "It's nothing. We're classmates, after all. I couldn't just stand by and do nothing—it's what anyone would've done."

Since the group entered the room, Shen Minyao had been unusually quiet.

Now, she suddenly spoke up.

"Liu Zhihao, Xu Xiuwen saved me. I'll thank him myself—I don't need you to do it for me."

Liu Zhihao's expression turned extremely awkward upon hearing this.

He tried to explain, but before he could, Shen Minyao stood up and walked out of the hospital room.

Seeing this, Liu Zhihao hurriedly followed her out.

Xu Xiuwen watched the scene unfold, still wearing a smile on his face.

Yang Baishan snickered. "Lao Liu's in trouble now. Shen Minyao's definitely mad at him."

Shi Xiangming asked in confusion, "Why would she be mad?"

Yang Baishan rolled his eyes at Shi Xiangming. "Shi Ge, you really don't understand girls, do you? Think about it—Shen Minyao was in danger today, and it was Xu Xiuwen who rushed in to save her, not Liu Zhihao. If you were a girl, wouldn't you be upset?"

Shi Xiangming said helplessly, "But Lao Liu didn't even know she was in the dormitory."

"Then how did Xiuwen know?" Yang Baishan retorted. "Shen Minyao probably feels that Lao Liu doesn't care about her or even have her in his heart."

Shi Xiangming couldn't help but sigh, "Poor Lao Liu. Wronged for no reason."

Yang Baishan scoffed, "Well, who told him to like her? If he likes her, then when she's unhappy, he just has to endure it."

Xu Xiuwen had long known that Liu Zhihao was pursuing Shen Minyao, but he still feigned ignorance and asked, "Lao Liu likes Shen Minyao?"

Yang Baishan nodded. "Of course. Everyone in our department knows. Lao Liu's been chasing Shen Minyao for an entire semester. Honestly, Shen Minyao's really something—she still hasn't agreed to date him."

The roommates all wore different expressions.

Sensing the atmosphere becoming awkward, Jin Haonan quickly said, "Lao Yang, cut it out. If someone overhears you, you'll offend them."

Yang Baishan shrugged indifferently. "Relax, they've gone out. They won't hear us."

The roommates started chatting casually after that.

Xu Xiuwen, however, became a little distracted, his mind replaying the scene from earlier when Shen Minyao had forcibly kissed him.

It felt like the warmth of her lips still lingered faintly on his own. He unconsciously licked his lips.

"Xiuwen, why isn't Tang Weiwei here? I thought she'd be staying with you at the hospital. Why was it just Shen Minyao?" Yang Baishan suddenly asked.

Xu Xiuwen snapped back to reality, looked at Yang Baishan, and replied, "Oh, Weiwei went out with her roommate Su Yanyan to buy dinner."

"I see."

"Yeah. Have you guys eaten yet?"

Jin Haonan responded, "We ate before coming here. We just wanted to keep you company for a while."

"Heh, thanks."

This semester, Xu Xiuwen hadn't spent much time in the dorm, so his relationship with his roommates had naturally grown a little distant. However, their visit today unintentionally helped to strengthen their bond again.

The roommates began recounting what had happened after Xu Xiuwen had passed out earlier. He listened with interest.

At that moment, the door to the hospital room quietly opened.

Shen Minyao stepped in, followed by Liu Zhihao.

Shen Minyao's expression was unpleasant. She said coldly, "Xu Xiuwen, someone's here to see you."

"Oh? Who is it?"

Xu Xiuwen struggled to lift his head and looked toward the door.

A tall girl with a frosty expression walked in.

When Xu Xiuwen saw her face, he froze in shock.

"You… why are you here?"

"Am I not allowed to come?" The girl's face was icy, and her tone was equally chilling.

Though Xu Xiuwen's arm was immobile, his leg instinctively twitched. He forced a dry laugh and said, "Of course you're allowed. I'm thrilled you're here."

At this point, Xu Xiuwen's roommates also recognized the girl and greeted her warmly.

"Cheng Lu, you're here!"

That's right—the girl with the cold demeanor was Xu Xiuwen's girlfriend, Cheng Lu.

It had been a long time since Xu Xiuwen had seen Cheng Lu with such a frosty expression or heard her speak in such a sharp tone.

That's why he had instinctively flinched earlier.

After acknowledging Xu Xiuwen's roommates with a slight nod, Cheng Lu turned her attention back to him.

Xu Xiuwen, meanwhile, was panicking. Cheng Lu's unexpected visit had completely caught him off guard, and he was deeply worried that his two-timing would be exposed. If that happened, he'd be doomed.

Cheng Lu walked to Xu Xiuwen's bedside and asked, "What did the doctor say? How are you feeling?"

Though her expression remained cold, her tone still betrayed her worry and tension.

"I'm fine. The doctor said I just need some time to recover."

Hearing Xu Xiuwen say he was okay, Cheng Lu let out a sigh of relief.

But in the next second, she couldn't help but scold him, "Why do you always have to play the hero? Who told you to rush into a fire to save someone? Do you just love being a big hero that much?"

This one sentence caused the atmosphere in the hospital room to freeze.

Xu Xiuwen's roommates immediately picked up on the tension and kept their mouths shut.

However, Shen Minyao couldn't stay silent.

"Cheng Lu, thank you for coming to see Xu Xiuwen. On his behalf, I thank you. But Xu Xiuwen rushed in to save me. If you want to blame someone, blame me."

Hearing Shen Minyao speak, Xu Xiuwen inwardly cursed.

Her words were exactly the last thing he wanted to hear—and definitely not what Cheng Lu wanted to hear either.

As expected, Cheng Lu's focus immediately shifted from Xu Xiuwen to Shen Minyao.

She knew Shen Minyao. They had met before when helping organize the freshman welcome party.

Cheng Lu coldly asked, "Thank me on his behalf? And what exactly is your relationship with him that you think you can thank me for him?"

Cheng Lu was already irritated by Shen Minyao's tone. And knowing that Xu Xiuwen had gotten hurt—almost losing his life—because of her, Cheng Lu couldn't possibly feel any goodwill toward her.

Cheng Lu's naturally cold personality and frosty demeanor had earned her the nickname "Ice Queen."

Right now, she truly embodied that reputation, her presence so intimidating that even Xu Xiuwen's five roommates were sitting in absolute silence, afraid to make a sound and draw her ire.

Xu Xiuwen inwardly groaned. He knew Cheng Lu's temper all too well.

Though she rarely showed her cold side since they'd started dating, when she got angry, her frosty aura could chill anyone to the bone.

Yet Shen Minyao seemed completely unfazed by Cheng Lu's icy demeanor.

She looked at Cheng Lu and said, "That's exactly what I wanted to ask you. Who Xu Xiuwen chooses to save is his own choice. Who are you to control him? And what right do you have to question him like that? What's your relationship with him, anyway?"

At first, Cheng Lu hadn't disliked Shen Minyao. She understood that it wasn't Shen Minyao's fault Xu Xiuwen got hurt—it wasn't as though she had intentionally put him in danger.

But Shen Minyao's tone now was utterly grating, making it impossible for Cheng Lu to tolerate her.

Cheng Lu replied coldly, "If you're so curious about my relationship with Xu Xiuwen, why don't you ask him yourself?"

Hearing this, Xu Xiuwen silently breathed a sigh of relief.

Cheng Lu hadn't directly stated that they were boyfriend and girlfriend, which meant the situation could still be salvaged.

He quickly interjected, "Come on, you two, stop arguing. There's nothing to argue about. I know you're both just worried about me, and I appreciate it. But I'm still injured. If you argue, it'll ruin my mood and slow down my recovery."

Shen Minyao softened noticeably at his words.

Since Cheng Lu was on his left side, Shen Minyao deliberately moved to his right, leaned over, and looked down at him.

In a gentle tone, she said, "Okay, I'll listen to you."

Cheng Lu, however, kept her icy expression.

Xu Xiuwen stared at her for a few seconds.

Cheng Lu rolled her eyes at him.

Xu Xiuwen couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Everyone else in the room was baffled—they had no idea what he found so amusing all of a sudden.

The tense atmosphere eased slightly, but the root problem remained unresolved.

Tang Weiwei and Su Yanyan had gone out to buy dinner.

By his calculations, they should be back any minute.

Before Tang Weiwei returned, Xu Xiuwen knew he had to get Cheng Lu to leave.

If the two women ran into each other, it would be a disaster!

Even if Tang Weiwei didn't come back soon, Xu Xiuwen still couldn't let Cheng Lu stay too long.

Their relationship could be exposed at any moment.

If Shen Minyao found out, it would be no different from Tang Weiwei finding out.

Xu Xiuwen paused for a moment and said, "Why don't you head back first? I'm really fine."

Cheng Lu replied calmly, "No, I have to stay here and keep an eye on you. Who knows what other reckless things you might do?"

Her tone had softened considerably, carrying a touch of warmth.

Xu Xiuwen knew Cheng Lu well—she always had a tough exterior but a soft heart.

Now that he was injured, she was undoubtedly more worried and anxious than anyone else.

If it weren't for his injured hand, Xu Xiuwen would have scratched his head in frustration.

In the end, he let out an awkward laugh, unsure of what to do.

Cheng Lu sat down on the chair next to the bed and asked, "Have you eaten dinner? Are you hungry?"

"I'm not hungry. Cheng Lu, you really don't need to stay and take care of me. Look, my roommates are here; they can take care of me."

"How is that possible? They're just a bunch of guys. How could they possibly take care of you properly?" Cheng Lu immediately refuted him.

"No, something's not right," Cheng Lu suddenly said.

"What's not right?"

"You've been trying to get me to leave ever since I got here. Did you do something you're hiding from me? You better confess now!"

Xu Xiuwen's face stiffened, and he felt a surge of guilt.

"I'm lying here in bed. I can't even get up. What could I possibly have done to betray you? Don't overthink it."

"Who knows? You've always been sneaky."

"I'm just worried about delaying your study time. Isn't exam week coming up soon? You can't afford to let me distract you. If you don't do well on your exams, Uncle and Auntie will definitely be upset."

This excuse passed muster.

At least Cheng Lu didn't press him further.

She shook her head lightly and said, "It's fine. Review sessions are just for filling in the gaps. I already learned everything in class. Besides, nothing is more important than you. Seeing you like this, how could I possibly concentrate on studying?"

Xu Xiuwen and Cheng Lu's conversation didn't escape the notice of everyone else in the room.

The more Shen Minyao listened, the more something felt off.

Xu Xiuwen's tone still seemed normal.

But Cheng Lu's tone was entirely out of character.

Why would someone as cold as Cheng Lu speak so gently to Xu Xiuwen, with such obvious concern and care?

Could it be that Cheng Lu also liked Xu Xiuwen?

That seemed like the only explanation.

Otherwise, why would Cheng Lu visit Xu Xiuwen and insist on staying to take care of him?

Shen Minyao had heard of Cheng Lu's reputation as the "Ice Queen."

At school, she was known for her aloofness, never giving any boy the time of day. Just being able to exchange a word with her was considered a major accomplishment.

And yet now, she was actively offering to care for Xu Xiuwen.

If that didn't say everything, what would?

Realizing that Cheng Lu might like Xu Xiuwen made Shen Minyao feel both surprised and a little bitter.

She was surprised that even the school's most famous beauty had feelings for Xu Xiuwen.

And bitter that even the school's most famous beauty had feelings for Xu Xiuwen.

Shen Minyao had always been confident in her looks and figure.

The only person who ever outshone her was Tang Weiwei.

But when she compared herself to Cheng Lu, she realized she came up short in every way.