Rebirth: Start to Save the Treasure Girl

"Didn't I hang up?"

Xue Rui suddenly sat up on the kang (a heated brick bed) and grabbed his phone from behind him.

On the screen in Xue Rui's hand, Gu Muxue's detailed call information was displayed. The little girl had answered the call, but he hadn't noticed.

"I remember I hung up," Xue Rui muttered to himself.

Lin Ruoxi hurriedly wrapped the blanket around Xue Rui, "Don't...don't say such unlucky things, you're fine."

Xue Rui turned around and saw the little girl kneeling outside the quilt, hugging him tightly, afraid that he would catch a cold.

"Xixi, come in."

Xue Rui obediently lay down, put the little girl under the covers, and immediately called Gu Muxue back.

Judging from the duration of the call, Gu Muxue overheard his entire conversation with Lin Ruoxi.

What were he and the little girl talking about just now?

They made a promise to Xiao Rui, even specifying a timeframe.

"Sorry, the number you dialed is currently busy."

The mechanical announcement kept repeating in the receiver, and Xue Rui's expression was extremely unpleasant.

Although Gu Muxue and Lin Ruoxi accept each other's presence, some topics are very sensitive.

For example, having children and discussing the future.

Gu Muxue must be feeling very wronged and angry right now.

If you put yourself in Gu Muxue's shoes, it would be like your boyfriend and best friend getting together and gossiping about you behind your back.

No girl could stand it.

"Xixi, can I use your phone for a moment? I need to send a text message to Muxue," Xue Rui said helplessly.

Meanwhile, at a manor in Jiangnan Province.

In the room, Gu Muxue buried herself in the blankets.

Every now and then, she would clench her little fist and hit the teddy bear in her arms.

"Asshole, bastard!"

Gu Muxue's voice was trembling with tears.

She sent Xue Rui many photos of her daily life on WeChat. Normally, Xue Rui would comment on each one, but today he hasn't replied to her since the afternoon.

Lin Ruoxi also seemed to have disappeared.

Let your boyfriend go home for Chinese New Year with another pretty girl?
She had been away from Xue Rui for two days, and she had already regretted it.

Why would someone do something so dangerous?
Because she trusted Xue Rui? And also believed Lin Ruoxi?

But hearing Xue Rui and Lin Ruoxi's conversation just now felt like being pricked by needles.

Xue Rui made a clear promise to Lin Ruoxi.

And what about me? What am I, really?
"Can't you think of another way after I blocked you?" Gu Muxue pouted and complained.

Her fingers trembled as she tried to remove Xue Rui from the blacklist, but then felt that the time was too short to prove her anger.

But... it's really hard to get through.

Suddenly, the text message notification sounded, and Gu Muxue hurriedly opened her phone to check.

Lin Ruoxi: [Mu Xue is my fault. Xue Rui's grandfather's house doesn't have internet. You should call Xue Rui and explain things clearly.]

Gu Muxue's peach blossom eyes were full of doubt. Was it really Lin Ruoxi?
Did Xue Rui send the text message using Lin Ruoxi's phone?
No, she needs to verify it.

Gu Muxue: [Given that real numbers x, y, z satisfy the system of equations:]
x + y + z = 6
xy + yz + zx = 11
Find the minimum value of x + y + z. Answer within one minute, or you will be blocked.

A few seconds later, Lin Ruoxi replied: [21.]

Gu Muxue burst out laughing.

The answer is wrong, but the person is right.

"14."

"The answer is 14," Lin Ruoxi kept reminding Xue Rui.

Xue Rui waved his hand: "Of course I know, but sometimes what is right is actually wrong."

If he answers correctly, Gu Muxue will mistakenly believe that he is really Lin Ruoxi, or that Lin Ruoxi is secretly watching from the side and will never reply to the message.

"Oh, I got it wrong. The answer is 21," Lin Ruoxi said with a smile.

Since Xue Rui said she was wrong, then she must be wrong.

The next moment, Gu Muxue replied to the message: [Wrong, quickly tell me who you are?]

Xue Rui's eyes lit up; the little girl had given him a way out.

He quickly typed a line: 【Mu Xue, don't worry about whether the answer is right or wrong, just tell me how fast I did it.】

Gu Muxue: [You're so stupid! You can't even do such a simple question. Didn't you ask Ruoxi for help?]

Xue Rui: [I made her stand outside as punishment. All she did was pester me late at night, without any regard for the consequences.]

Lin Ruoxi pouted and quietly lifted the blanket, preparing to go out and stand as punishment as Xue Rui had asked.

"Where to?" Xue Rui asked, puzzled.

"Stand as punishment," Lin Ruoxi said, her head lowered, her voice sounding somewhat aggrieved.

Xue Rui's lips twitched. Going out in this cold weather would freeze her to death. This little girl is so stubborn.

"Come back!" Xue Rui pulled Lin Ruoxi into his arms and whispered:

"How could I bear to make you stand as punishment? I was just showing off in front of Mu Xue."

"Hehe." Lin Ruoxi's eyes curved into a smile, and she couldn't help but rub her face against Xue Rui's.

Gu Muxue: [Let her in, you go stand outside as punishment!]

Xue Rui: [Yes, sir!]

Xue Rui chuckled and handed the phone to Lin Ruoxi.

The girl was quite sensible; she just threw a little tantrum and didn't argue with him too much about sensitive issues.

"Why are you giving this to me?" Lin Ruoxi's almond-shaped eyes widened in surprise; she hadn't realized that Gu Muxue wanted to chat with her.

Xue Rui smiled but didn't explain. It seemed the little girl's high EQ was only directed at him.

Suddenly, a text message notification sounded.

Gu Muxue: [What is the answer?]

Lin Ruoxi tilted her head, wondering what Xue Rui and Gu Muxue were talking about.

"14, reply quickly." Xue Rui pinched Lin Ruoxi's face.

"it is good."

Lin Ruoxi hurriedly typed "14".

Gu Muxue: [Ruoxi, help me punch him a couple of times to vent my anger.]

Xue Rui nodded: "Go ahead and fight, don't hold back."

Lin Ruoxi shook her head vigorously; she would never hit Xue Rui.

Lin Ruoxi: [Mu Xue, I'm sorry. After the New Year, you can beat me up to vent your anger.]

Gu Muxue: [Hmph! Pathetic.]

Xue Rui looked at the screen and smiled with satisfaction. As long as the little girl was willing to bow down to Xiao Nizi, Xiao Nizi could be coaxed away quickly.

Lin Ruoxi: [I'm sorry, then... then you'll have a little Mu Xue?]

Gu Muxue: [Who wants to have his child?]

Xue Rui found it quite amusing, until he saw Lin Ruoxi type a line: I'm going to have children, I'm planning to have several.

"Xi Xi, stop chatting." Xue Rui snatched the phone and impersonated Lin Ruoxi to reply to Gu Muxue's message:

[Mu Xue, my phone's dead. Let's talk tomorrow.]

Gu Muxue: [Okay, goodnight.]

Xue Rui breathed a sigh of relief, and at the same time, his phone beeped with a text message notification. Curious, Xue Rui picked up his phone to check it.

Gu Muxue: [Goodnight, you jerk!]

Lin Ruoxi shrank her neck, unsure of what she had said wrong.

But she was well aware of one thing: her unreasonable behavior had upset both Xue Rui and Gu Muxue.

"It was my fault, you...you should punish me," Lin Ruoxi said softly.

"I think it's an Apple problem. I just confirmed that I pressed the hang-up button several times. Do I look like someone who can't aim?"

Xue Rui shifted the blame to California, USA, across the ocean.

"Well, there's a lot of static electricity in the north during winter, which can interfere with the screen's electric field. Low ambient temperatures can also increase the resistance of the ITO film, leading to increased response time or screen touch malfunction. Dry fingers can also affect touch functionality," Lin Ruoxi explained.

Xue Rui suppressed a laugh, thinking to himself that the little girl was quite the expert at shifting blame, and that her explanation was both reasonable and well-founded.

"Then how do we solve this?" Xue Rui asked.

"Just put your phone in your pocket to warm it up, and you can touch a wall to remove static electricity since your fingers are dry."

After pondering for a long time, Lin Ruoxi took Xue Rui's finger and gently licked Xue Rui's thumb with her pink little tongue: "That's good."

Xue Rui was stunned for a moment. Did this silly girl even know how good she was at flirting?

Lin Ruoxi noticed Xue Rui's reaction in her arms and looked out the window nervously: "Are...are Grandpa and Grandma asleep?"

Xue Rui snapped out of his daze and asked with a smile, "Xi Xi, what are you trying to do?"

Lin Ruoxi smiled and slowly moved her body, sticking her toes out to hook the pull rope switch on the wall.

With a "click," the incandescent light bulb above went out.

"I...I'll keep my voice down." Lin Ruoxi lowered her voice, making it soft and pleasant to hear.

Xue Rui was utterly shocked.

No? Is this my house or your house? How come you seem so familiar with it?

Xue Rui immediately changed the subject: "Xi Xi, I actually don't want you to have a child."

"why?"

Lin Ruoxi's voice was surprised. Didn't we agree that she would receive a little Rui after graduation?
“Your mother-in-law died during childbirth, and I’m very worried about your safety.”

Lin Ruoxi felt dizzy. Xue Rui's previous hesitation was all for her sake.

A warm feeling flowed into my heart.

Hearing Xue Rui's words, Lin Ruoxi's determination to have a baby with Xiao Rui became even stronger.

"Don't move," Xue Rui whispered sternly.

"Just a hug," Lin Ruoxi said softly.

"alright."

Just as Xue Rui finished speaking, he heard the sound of a plastic bag being torn. Although it was very faint, he still noticed it.

Xue Rui was very familiar with the sound; the little girl was taking apart the "little umbrella."

It was the 21st day of the twelfth lunar month, early morning.

"Xixi, did you ask your grandma how old she is last night? What's her zodiac sign? Is she older or younger than me?"

"She's a little older than you, but she looks older."

"Look at this photo, it was taken when Xiao Rui was in kindergarten."

"Wow, so cute."

"You wouldn't believe it, he used to wet the bed when he was in kindergarten."

"Any more?"

Xue Rui was awakened by the conversation around him, and he groggily opened his eyes.

He glanced around the room. His underwear was draped over the radiator. Lin Ruoxi and her grandmother sat hand in hand on the kang (a heated brick bed), chatting like sisters.

"Xi Xi?" Xue Rui asked tentatively.

"You're awake?" Lin Ruoxi walked to the bedside and gently kissed Xue Rui's forehead, her tender gaze filled with affection.

"Get up and eat quickly." Grandma smiled kindly.

Xue Rui buried his head under the covers, wishing he hadn't woken up.

Grandma was revealing his dark past, and Lin Ruoxi seemed very interested, even taking the initiative to ask him questions.

"Don't cover your head. If you want to sleep, I'll draw the curtains." Lin Ruoxi lifted the blanket a little.

"Get up quickly." Grandma ruthlessly pulled back the covers.

"How old am I?"

"Get out!" Xue Rui blushed, and like a little girl, he hugged the quilt and shrank into the corner.

"I've seen you running around naked when you were little." Grandma showed no mercy, picking up her underwear and throwing it at Xue Rui.

Lin Ruoxi smiled sweetly at Xue Rui: "If you don't want to get up, then don't. I'll bring the dishes over."

Xue Rui sighed, feeling an unprecedented sense of powerlessness.

He is indeed a bit tired today.

Not just physical, but also spiritual.

He glanced out the window, quickly put on his underwear, and climbed to the bedside.

"Huh? Where are my shoes?"

"Your coat is gone too?"

Xue Rui seemed to have a misconception that Lin Ruoxi was going to team up with his grandmother to "confine" him and keep him as a pet.

yard.

Grandpa squatted in the sun with a bowl in his hand, eating and sunbathing at the same time, while Grandma squatted down next to him and whispered something in his ear.

“Old man, last night I was about to bring Xiao Rui a chamber pot when I heard noises coming from the room, so I didn’t dare to go over.”

"Our grandson is amazing, he sleeps until ten in the morning without going to the toilet."

Grandpa looked at him strangely and said, "Shut up, or you'll scare the two kids away."

"No, Xixi is much more obedient than the eldest daughter-in-law. She does whatever I say. She even helped me burn firewood this morning." Grandma smiled with satisfaction.

"I've lived this long and never seen such an obedient child." Grandpa nodded, thinking that his grandson was about to enjoy a life of comfort.

"Has the third son come back yet? We need to urge him to come back, otherwise the family will fall behind."

"Let him stay single if he wants, why should we care?" Grandpa said irritably.

At the same time, Wang Zhigang stood in the yard and awkwardly greeted, "Hello, Grandpa and Grandma, I'm Xue Rui."

Grandma's eyes lit up, and she said in broken Mandarin, "It's inside."

Inside Xue Rui's room.

Xue Rui looked utterly dejected. In front of him was a small table with a few stir-fried dishes and two steaming yellow steamed buns.

Xue Rui was very familiar with these steamed buns; they were the same kind he had snatched from Lin Ruoxi and kicked away back then, and one of them was as good as two.

Xue Rui didn't have much of an appetite in the morning, and thought that half an egg would be enough, but Lin Ruoxi took two.

"Xixi, I can't eat this much." Xue Rui waved the steamed bun in his hand.

"I haven't eaten yet?" Lin Ruoxi said softly. She wanted to wait for Xue Rui to get up so they could eat together.

"Then why did you only take one pair of chopsticks?" Xue Rui couldn't help but ask.

Lin Ruoxi didn't answer, but broke off half of the steamed bun and handed it to Xue Rui. She then took the chopsticks from Xue Rui, used the steamed bun to hold the food, and fed it to Xue Rui's mouth.

Xue Rui paused for a moment, then opened his mouth and ate it.

Was Lin Ruoxi hinting at something to him?
Is it about having a baby again?
Xue Rui suddenly started missing Gu Muxue. Lin Ruoxi would never have dared to do this when Gu Muxue was around.

After suppressing her emotions for half a year, Lin Ruoxi, with the support of her grandmother, completely unleashed her maternal instincts.

Even without children, he is still a child?

That can't be right, can it?
Being waited on occasionally is a pleasure, but no one can stand it every day.

Should I reprimand him?

It didn't work at all; Lin Ruoxi cried and she had to be comforted.

How to coax?
The answer is to let Lin Ruoxi do as she pleases.

An infinite loop?

"Xixi, let's go see your grandma. I haven't seen her in a long time," Xue Rui said.

Once he steps out of this courtyard, he will regain his freedom!

Lin Ruoxi gently shook her head: "I'll go in a few days. I'll spend these days with my grandma."

Xue Rui felt a chill run down his spine; it was as if the little girl had signed some kind of agreement with her grandmother.

"What exactly did she promise you?" Xue Rui asked curiously.

When Lin Ruoxi woke up, she found that she and her grandmother had a relationship as close as sisters.

“I…I promised to stay a few more days, and she gave me your childhood toys and photos.”

Lin Ruoxi chuckled sheepishly. (End of Chapter)