Rebirth Begins with Rejecting My Childhood Friend

Bai Yue'er sniffled and said, "Who... who cried? I didn't cry."

"Heh..."

"Xu Xiuwen, why are you so annoying? What did I ever do to you? Why do you keep bullying me..." Bai Yue'er complained, her delicate face full of grievance.

"Hey, get it straight—it was you who bit me first, and now you're playing the victim?"

"You were the one who said you'd dock my pay," Bai Yue'er argued with conviction.

"Fine, fine, it's my fault, alright? Can we make up now?" Xu Xiuwen offered her an olive branch.

Bai Yue'er huffed proudly, "Who wants to make up with you?"

"No? Alright then!" Xu Xiuwen turned and walked away without hesitation.

Bai Yue'er hadn't expected Xu Xiuwen to give up so quickly. She immediately felt even more irritated, but with Xu Xiuwen already gone, she had no one to vent her emotions to. Frustrated, she pouted.

Still, after the brief exchange, she managed to hold back her tears and didn't actually cry.

Xu Xiuwen was gone. When Bai Yue'er turned around, her gaze met her three roommates, who had been watching the scene unfold.

Tang Weiwei wore an amused smile.

Su Yanyan was stifling her laughter.

Only Shen Minyao didn't laugh. Her gaze toward Bai Yue'er was cold, making Bai Yue'er feel uneasy.

Startled, Bai Yue'er instinctively looked away.

Su Yanyan couldn't help but tease, "Sister Yue'er, you're really adorable—one moment you're angry, the next you're about to cry."

Being called cute made Bai Yue'er happy, but Su Yanyan's tone quickly shifted as she added, "But Sister Yue'er, you're so unreasonable. You gave Dada a hard time, bit him, and then made him apologize to you."

Bai Yue'er's face instantly darkened, a reaction that only made Su Yanyan laugh harder.

Tang Weiwei chuckled softly as well.

Shen Minyao, however, still didn't laugh. Her cold gaze toward Bai Yue'er remained unchanged.

As the exam time approached, more students began to arrive.

The other five members of Room 412 came in almost at the last minute.

When they saw Xu Xiuwen also taking the exam, they immediately surrounded him.

It's worth noting that at Jiangling Academy, students could choose their own seats for exams. Early arrivals got first pick, while latecomers had fewer options. Some even came early just to reserve a spot.

Why?

Because a "lucky" seat could at least double your chances of passing.

Last semester, most of Xu Xiuwen's roommates had failed a course. Back then, no one knew Xu Xiuwen's academic strength, so they hadn't thought about relying on him.

But after learning from that experience, they now knew Xu Xiuwen was a hidden genius.

Thus, the roommates all sat around him, covering his front, back, left, and right.

Soon, the exam began.

In his previous life, Xu Xiuwen had only repeated a single year before being admitted to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, which showed his intelligence, though he wasn't exactly a prodigy.

In this life, however, with his memory enhanced, he had near-photographic recall, rivaling a genius.

Even though he hadn't attended class for an entire semester, a week of review was enough for him to completely master the exam material.

As he answered the questions, his pen practically flew across the paper.

After finishing his own exam, Xu Xiuwen noticed the expectant gazes of his roommates. With a subtle shift of his test paper, he slid it slightly to one side... then a little more.

.....

Exam week lasted for seven consecutive days.

In the blink of an eye, a week had passed.

It's worth mentioning that Shen Minyao's birthday fell on June 28th, which was the third day of exam week.

That evening, Xu Xiuwen attended Shen Minyao's birthday dinner. Of course, it wasn't just the two of them.

The three girls from Room 601 were all there, as well as the other five members of Room 412.

This was because Liu Zhihua had been pursuing Shen Minyao for an entire semester—something everyone was well aware of.

Additionally, there was the connection between Shi Xiangming and Shen Minyao's roommate, Bai Yue'er.

So, for Shen Minyao's birthday, Liu Zhihua invited all his roommates to join in the celebration.

However, because of the "incident" in the hospital last time, Liu Zhihua hadn't invited Xu Xiuwen.

It was only after they arrived that they realized Xu Xiuwen had also come.

What's more, they were shocked to see Xu Xiuwen sitting very close to Tang Weiwei, acting extremely intimate.

Later, in private, the roommates grilled Xu Xiuwen about what was going on.

When they learned that not only had Tang Weiwei not broken up with him, but she had also agreed to share him with Cheng Lu, the five roommates were filled with envy and resentment.

Their gazes toward Xu Xiuwen practically screamed murder.

How could such amazing girls all end up with Xu Xiuwen? He didn't deserve it!

Xu Xiuwen not only attended Shen Minyao's birthday dinner but also prepared a gift—a Swarovski necklace worth over 10,000 yuan.

To be honest, the relationship between Xu Xiuwen and Shen Minyao wasn't close enough for a gift as personal as a necklace.

But he gave it anyway.

Because in his previous life, Shen Minyao had taken a liking to a similar necklace. At that time, however, Xu Xiuwen was strapped for cash and couldn't afford it.

Fortunately, Shen Minyao was understanding and didn't insist, even comforting him instead.

When Xu Xiuwen recalled this memory before her birthday, he felt a pang of guilt.

Perhaps out of a desire to make up for it, he bought a necklace that closely resembled the one Shen Minyao had liked in his past life, wrapped it up, and gave it to her as a gift.

Shen Minyao didn't open the gift on the spot, but later that night, Xu Xiuwen received a call from her.

She told him she loved the gift.

Xu Xiuwen simply laughed and brushed it off.

July 2nd marked the final day of exam week.

There was only one exam that afternoon.

After finishing the last exam, Xu Xiuwen joined his roommates for dinner in the school cafeteria.

It was probably their last meal together for the semester.

After dinner, Xu Xiuwen drove to a familiar campus path he often visited in the past.

Sitting in his car, he waited quietly.

Before long, Xu Xiuwen spotted Tang Weiwei walking toward him through the rearview mirror.

He chuckled to himself, suddenly feeling like teasing her.

Knock, knock.

Tang Weiwei walked up to Xu Xiuwen's car and tapped on the door.

There was no response.

She leaned closer to peek inside the car, but the windows were tinted, so she couldn't see anything.

Left with no choice, she walked to the front of the car and tried looking through the windshield.

Still, she couldn't spot Xu Xiuwen.

Tang Weiwei was puzzled.

She turned around, pulled out her phone, and began dialing Xu Xiuwen's number.

At that moment, Xu Xiuwen, taking advantage of her distraction, quietly opened the car door, slipped out, and crept up behind Tang Weiwei.

Just as Tang Weiwei turned around, she was met with a tall, shadowy figure looming in front of her.

Startled, she let out a small gasp, but Xu Xiuwen burst into laughter.

Tang Weiwei quickly realized it was just Xu Xiuwen teasing her.

While most girls might have pouted or thrown a playful tantrum, Tang Weiwei didn't get upset.

She stood there gracefully, facing Xu Xiuwen.

Xu Xiuwen, in turn, couldn't help but take in her appearance.

Though she hadn't dressed up intentionally, her silky, jet-black hair was tied into a ponytail, and her delicate eyebrows looked as if they had been painted on. Her crescent-shaped eyes sparkled with an adorable charm when she smiled.

Her small, refined nose and rosy lips gave her an undeniable youthful beauty. Her flawless face was like a piece of white jade, smooth and radiant.

Her slender, ivory-like neck added an extra touch of elegance.

She was wearing a pair of jeans that hugged her long, shapely legs, paired with a simple white T-shirt that stretched slightly across her chest, accentuating her curves.

The overall effect was one of pure, youthful innocence.

Tang Weiwei exhaled softly. "You scared me for a second."

Xu Xiuwen, feeling a rush of warmth at the sight of her, wasted no time. He grabbed her hand and led her to the back seat of the car.

Once the door shut, Xu Xiuwen immediately leaned closer to her.

Tang Weiwei instinctively leaned back until her back pressed against the car door, leaving her nowhere else to go.

Xu Xiuwen wrapped his arms around her slender waist, his broad chest almost touching hers.

Looking deeply into her eyes, he said in a low, tender voice, "Weiwei, I've missed you so much. Did you miss me?"

"I…"

Tang Weiwei's heart raced like a deer caught in headlights under Xu Xiuwen's intense gaze.

Her face flushed red, and she lowered her head, her delicate hands nervously clutching the hem of her T-shirt. Her entire demeanor was tense and shy.

"Why won't you answer me? Did you not miss me?" Xu Xiuwen asked in a playfully hurt tone.

Tang Weiwei murmured softly, "But we just saw each other not long ago…"

Xu Xiuwen nodded. "That's true, but even being apart for a little while makes me miss you. That's how much I like you. Don't you like me too?"

Still held tightly in Xu Xiuwen's arms, Tang Weiwei found herself too flustered to meet his gaze. She stayed in his embrace, letting him hold her.

After a long silence, she finally whispered, "I do like you."

"What was that? I didn't hear you," Xu Xiuwen teased, staring at her lowered head.

Her long lashes trembled nervously, and her cheeks were as red as ripe tomatoes.

Xu Xiuwen's gaze drifted to her rosy lips.

He knew just how sweet they were, and he couldn't help but swallow hard.

Although Tang Weiwei didn't lift her head, she could feel the heat of his gaze.

Her body trembled slightly as she stammered, "I… I like you too."

Hearing the girl's heartfelt confession, Xu Xiuwen could no longer restrain himself.

A powerful surge of emotion overwhelmed him, and he abandoned any pretense of being a gentleman, leaning in for a kiss.

It wasn't their first kiss, yet Tang Weiwei still reacted like it was her first time. Her entire body tensed, frozen in place. It felt as though a bolt of lightning had struck her mind, obliterating every thought and leaving it blank.

All her senses seemed to converge on her lips, where the electrifying sensation rendered her whole body weak and trembling. She felt utterly powerless.

Since they were in the car, there was no fear of being spotted by passing students. Xu Xiuwen took full advantage, pulling her tightly into his arms and kissing her with abandon.

It was unclear how long the kiss lasted. Tang Weiwei only became aware of Xu Xiuwen's warm breath brushing against her cheeks, her heart pounding so fast that it felt like she might suffocate. Desperately, she shook her head and used the last of her strength to push him away.

But her resistance was too feeble to make a difference. Xu Xiuwen noticed her attempt, hesitated briefly, then reluctantly released her lips.

Tang Weiwei gasped for air, her soft tongue flicking out as she panted slightly. Her cheeks were flushed a deep crimson, as if intoxicated, but her clear, watery eyes radiated a mesmerizing allure.

Xu Xiuwen was captivated by her beauty, his desire flaring up once again. Unable to resist, he leaned in for another kiss. Tang Weiwei let out a soft, trembling whimper and found herself lost in the moment once more.

It wasn't until she felt like she could no longer breathe that she summoned the strength to push him away again.

But Xu Xiuwen, like a relentless shadow, pressed back against her, his actions growing bolder by the second.

As Xu Xiuwen's hands wandered further, threatening to cross a boundary, Tang Weiwei suddenly snapped out of her daze.

His passionate obsession made her feel a mix of joy and sweetness—but also fear. "No, it's too fast…" she murmured, her voice trembling.

"We've known each other for a year already," Xu Xiuwen whispered, holding her tightly and refusing to let her retreat. "Come on, let me feel you…"

He kissed her swollen, reddened lips again, his movements tender yet insistent.

Tang Weiwei's figure, though usually concealed, was undeniably stunning. Xu Xiuwen had been one of the first to notice it, yet he'd never had the freedom to fully savor it.

Now, in the privacy of the car, he didn't want to hold back any longer.

Unbothered by the possibility of being seen, Xu Xiuwen's demeanor grew increasingly domineering.

Faced with Tang Weiwei's subtle resistance, he ignored it and continued acting as he pleased. Under his assertive advances, Tang Weiwei nearly surrendered. Fortunately, she snapped back to her senses just in time.

She forcefully pulled Xu Xiuwen's hands out from under the hem of her T-shirt. "No, I really can't," she said softly.

Seemingly afraid of making him angry, Tang Weiwei kept her head lowered, not daring to meet his gaze, and added in a quiet voice, "I'm sorry… but my grandma hasn't given her approval yet."

Xu Xiuwen frowned slightly. "But I've touched you before, haven't I? Even last time in the car—why not now?"

Tang Weiwei clutched her hands tightly together, her nervousness evident in her posture. Though she feared his displeasure, her determination was clear.

At first, Xu Xiuwen had been carried away by the moment, but seeing her reaction immediately sobered him. He knew how important her grandmother was to her. Tang Weiwei wasn't rejecting him because she didn't like him—she was simply too obedient to her grandmother's wishes.

Cursing himself inwardly for being so impatient, Xu Xiuwen softened his tone and apologized, "I'm sorry, Weiwei. I was too impulsive."

"It's okay," Tang Weiwei said quickly, waving her hand in reassurance.

Xu Xiuwen released her and leaned back, trying to create some distance. As he looked at her delicate, alluring face, he couldn't help but swallow hard. Finally, he said, "I guess I'll have to meet your grandma soon."

Tang Weiwei looked up at him in surprise, her expression caught between astonishment and shyness.

Xu Xiuwen was already deep in thought. If he wanted a deeper relationship with Tang Weiwei, he would need her grandmother's approval. With the holiday break approaching, it was the perfect time to escort Tang Weiwei home and meet her grandmother. If he missed this chance, he'd have to wait until the next semester.

Having made up his mind, Xu Xiuwen said earnestly, "I've been dying to have you to myself. I've thought about it, and I've decided I'll accompany you home this break—and meet your grandma while I'm at it."

Tang Weiwei's face turned bright red, and she stammered, unable to form a coherent response.

"You don't want me to meet your grandma?" Xu Xiuwen asked.

"No, no, that's not it… I just…" Tang Weiwei's nervousness was written all over her face, as obvious as the rising sun.