Chapter 23: Where Did You Find Such a Lovely Young Lady?

What does shaking her head mean?
Before Lu Yuanqiu could ask, Bai Qingxia turned away, her eyes shy and downcast. She clutched the straps of her backpack and walked ahead in silence, her head bowed.

Watching the day students file past them one after another, Lu Yuanqiu understood—perhaps the girl was simply embarrassed. After all, there were so many eyes at the school gate. If even one of those eyes belonged to someone who knew Bai Qingxia, and they saw the ice-cold campus beauty sitting on the back of his bicycle, word of it would surely be all over school by tomorrow.

Remembering how a girl had once secretly pushed Bai Qingxia down the steps, Lu Yuanqiu silently reproached himself for being too careless. Bai Qingxia was well-known at school; if someone bullied her, there would always be others ready to spread rumors.

Lu Yuanqiu slowed his pace as he pushed his bicycle, intentionally widening the distance between them. Sensing his considerate gesture, Bai Qingxia’s anxiety eased just a little.

Thus, the boy and girl kept a distance of ten or twenty meters between them, one leading, one following. From time to time, Bai Qingxia glanced over her shoulder to make sure Lu Yuanqiu was still behind her, and he would tilt his head and flash her a smile.

After a while, having turned a few corners and seeing that no other students from No. 7 High were in sight, Lu Yuanqiu mounted his bicycle and rode up beside her.

“Hop on. No one will see us now.”

True to his words, Bai Qingxia obediently made her way around, rose on tiptoe, and sat sideways on the back seat. Lu Yuanqiu grumbled, “If you don’t hold on to me, you’re definitely going to fall off.”

At his words, Bai Qingxia’s long lashes fluttered. She slowly reached out her fair little hand and, as if committing a petty theft, lightly pinched the hem of his school jacket.

Lu Yuanqiu was speechless. He started pedaling, but left one hand free, ready to catch her if she slipped.

As the bicycle began to move, Bai Qingxia lost her balance, letting out a muffled gasp as she instinctively threw her arms around Lu Yuanqiu’s waist, her pink nails turning white from her grip.

Seeing she wasn’t entirely rigid, Lu Yuanqiu chuckled softly and placed his hand back on the handlebars.

“There’s no one around, and it’s not as if there’s anything between us. What’s wrong with holding on while riding?”

He spoke carelessly from the front, oblivious to the delicate thoughts hidden within the girl’s heart.

Bai Qingxia kept her head down, her ears burning red. Her arms felt numb, too nervous to hold him tightly, so she simply maintained her embrace.

Had it been someone else pedaling, Bai Qingxia might not have cared so much, nor felt so restrained. But the person in front of her was Lu Yuanqiu.

She never could have imagined that the boy she could only gaze at in a daze during ten-minute breaks was now giving her a ride on his bicycle…

In that moment, unseen by anyone, a rare smile of happiness blossomed on the girl’s lips once her shyness subsided.

If only the world could stop at this very moment, she wished silently in her heart.

But Bai Qingxia knew—happiness could belong to anyone, just never to her.

She had been chosen by misfortune since she was a child.

“I look at your face, brushing the chords so gently~
First love is the whole story, handwritten days gone by~”

Lu Yuanqiu hummed a Jay Chou tune, pedaling leisurely toward his family’s large supermarket.

—

Bai Qingxia looked up in curiosity. “What song are you singing?”

“Jay Chou’s.”

“I haven’t heard that one.”

“Huh? Really?” Lu Yuanqiu slowed his pedaling and suddenly remembered—the line “handwritten days gone by” was from a song released in 2014.

But this was 2010.

He smiled wistfully, nearly forgetting he had been reborn.

Not that he was musically gifted, nor did he want to plagiarize; besides, he loved Jay Chou—no one would ever replace Jay Chou, not even his reborn self.

His dearest wish in this new life was to get into a good university and make up for the regret of never having attended college.

He recalled all those reincarnation novels he’d read, where the protagonists always threw themselves into business ventures, each story more monotonous than the last.

To Lu Yuanqiu, priorities had to be set after rebirth.

You’ve been reborn, and you’re still going to pour all your energy into making money?

A slave to money in your previous life, only to repeat it again?

What is the core essence of being reborn?

First, it restores your youth!

Second, it gives you a golden opportunity to make money.

His main reason for coming back was to enjoy his youth.

Of course, money had to be made, but that could wait until after the college entrance exams. Besides, his father was wealthy, which was another reason for his lack of urgency.

If he and Bai Qingxia could get into the same university, that would be wonderful, but Lu Yuanqiu thought it was probably just wishful thinking.

Bai Qingxia was destined for Tsinghua or Peking University.

When it came to exams, the upcoming monthly test would probably be the only time he and Bai Qingxia shared a testing room.

After that, she’d return to her seat at the very front of the top exam hall, regarding him with the aloof pride of the year’s best student, while he…

Suddenly, Lu Yuanqiu came to an abrupt stop, making Bai Qingxia cry out in surprise as she bumped into his back.

He felt a fleeting softness pressing against him before collecting his thoughts, his expression turning serious as he stared at the red light at the intersection and made a bold declaration to the girl:

“Bai Qingxia.”

“Um?”

“I don’t want to be last anymore. I’m going to study hard, I don’t want to sit in the last exam room ever again! I want to get into a good university!”

People waiting by the crosswalk turned to stare, surprised.

The girl’s ears were crimson as she lowered her head behind him. “I’ll do my best to help you study… The light’s green now, let’s go…”

She urged him quietly, feeling as though she might shatter into pieces.

For the first time, she wanted to hit Lu Yuanqiu for being so unashamedly outgoing.

After winding through a few more streets, the pair finally arrived at the supermarket.

—

The supermarket was called “Four Seasons Fresh Market.”

It was one of the largest produce markets in the Wangjiang Road area.

Once Bai Qingxia got off the bike, Lu Yuanqiu parked at the entrance and told her to wait outside while he went in to announce their arrival.

She stood in place, nodding obediently, but her pale fingers twisting at her sleeves betrayed her nervousness.

This time, she wasn’t just meeting the boss—she was meeting Lu Yuanqiu’s father.

Even though she knew meeting his father meant nothing to her, nerves still got the best of her.

Inside, Lu Yuanqiu spotted his father, Lu Tian, jotting notes on a pad as he checked the goods on the shelves.

“Dad!”

Lu Yuanqiu called out, startling Lu Tian so much he jerked.

“Yelling like that—are you calling your mother?”

Looking back at his father’s face, which now bore a striking resemblance to the actor Wei Xiang, Lu Yuanqiu couldn’t help but smile. He’d never found it funny before—perhaps because Wei Xiang hadn’t been famous at the time.

Clearing his throat, Lu Yuanqiu pointed outside. “She’s here. Just tell her the basics, don’t ask too many questions, okay?”

Lu Tian walked over, excitement in his step. “Really? Let me see what poor soul’s studies you’re about to ruin, heh.”

Father and son stepped outside. Bai Qingxia immediately turned to face them, her long lashes trembling as she greeted him nervously, “G-good evening, uncle.”

Lu Tian’s smiling face froze for a moment before he managed to squeeze out a reply. “Good… evening.”

He hurriedly grabbed his son’s arm and dragged him back inside.

“You little brat, where did you find such a lovely girl? I thought it was going to be a boy! Aren’t you afraid her father will come after you?”

“Huh? She’s… she’s my deskmate,” Lu Yuanqiu stammered.

Lu Tian rapped him on the head. “This girl is clearly from a wealthy family. How could she need the money? Are you trying to trick her into something? What did I do to deserve a son like you…”

He started to take off his shoe, intent on giving him a beating. Lu Yuanqiu, acting on instinct, dodged aside and protested, “I’m not lying! She volunteered!”

Lu Tian, fuming, chased after him. “That’s not good enough. Tell her to leave. Don’t you dare ruin my business.”

He kicked Lu Yuanqiu, sending him stumbling out of the store in a rather awkward pose.

Lu Yuanqiu scratched his head, embarrassed.

Bai Qingxia managed a nervous smile, her pale hands twisting together at her waist. “Lu Yuanqiu, I’ll head home now.”

She bowed her head, forced a grimace, then turned and walked into the darkness.

Surprised by her sudden reaction, Lu Yuanqiu hurried after her and grabbed her arm.

“Wait!”

The girl turned slightly, hiding her reddened eyes beneath her hair, yet still forcing a smile.

“It’s getting late. If my dad doesn’t see me, he’ll worry. I’m heading home now…”