No one understands rebirth better than me

Chapter 159 Let her see

"Guan Ren, you're back?"

"Ah yes."

In the living room, Guan Qiaoyun, who heard the noise at the door, asked a question and received an affirmative answer.

At the same time, Luo Xiaobei and Gu Youli, each holding a paper bag, also turned around and looked towards the entrance partition.

The two moved in somewhat unison.

So much so that when they turned around, they both glanced at each other without prior arrangement.

"..."

"..."

It was only a very brief eye contact.

In truth, there is no, nor should there be, any meaningful perception.

However, in that brief moment, Gu Youli and Luo Xiaobei both experienced an inexplicable sense of "encounter".

Admittedly, the two girls had been classmates in Class 7 of the second year of high school for a semester. Even if they didn't interact frequently in class, they were always running into each other, so it couldn't be considered a "chance encounter" anymore.

But that fleeting feeling, this so-called "sense of encounter"...

how to say…

If we had to give a reason, it would probably be that although the two knew each other at school, this was the first time they had met at someone's house.

Such a "first meeting" can indeed be considered a different kind of encounter.

As for Guan Ren, after recognizing the girl by her scent, since they were all acquaintances, he didn't bother with formalities. Too lazy to go around the entrance partition to peek into the living room, he carried his bags to the kitchen to unload them first.

While Gu Youli was still somewhat at a loss, Luo Xiaobei had already given Guan Qiaoyun a big smile:
"Sister Qiaoyun~ Keep the gift safe, I'm going to help Guanren now~"

After saying that, Luo Xiaobei slipped on her pink slippers and headed towards the kitchen.

"..."

Gu Youli, standing to the side, saw Luo Xiaobei's composed and familiar figure reflected in her eyes, and her feelings became complicated.

This very complexity caused the "I'll go too" that I wanted to blurt out to be stuck in my throat, unable to come out at that moment, and I stood there awkwardly, feeling a bit stiff.

But no problem.

At this moment, Gu Youli felt a surge of energy rising from the depths of her heart. She quickly calmed herself down, turned her head back to look at Guan Qiaoyun, and just then heard Guan Qiaoyun sigh.

"Ugh…"

This sigh wasn't a bad one.

It was a mixture of slight helplessness and seven parts surprise.

Although Guan Qiaoyun knew that Luo Xiaobei was coming today, she didn't expect that this girl she used to visit would bring a gift today—a set of affordable but exquisitely packaged skincare products.

This selection is quite suitable for a girls' high school.

What she didn't expect was that Gu Youli also sent a gift.

The box is slightly larger and looks like a hairdryer, but it looks more unique than a regular hairdryer.

Gu Youli said it was her and her sister's idea, and the gift fits that perfectly.

Although both girls had very good reasons for giving gifts this time.

One reason was that "it's been a long time since I've been here," and I wanted to bring something for my childhood friend's mother.

Another gift was a token of gratitude from my sister, who had visited our home several times while she was away on business.

However, since two people were giving gifts at the same time, Guan Qiaoyun still felt it was quite sudden and too coincidental. So, after a sigh, she parted her red lips slightly and asked Gu Youli with a hint of teasing, but also some suspicion:
"Youli, you and Xiaobei...did you make a plan?"

"No."

Gu Youli gently shook her head.

Anyway, she was lying in bed last night, listening to someone's recording with her earphones in, as usual, but she tossed and turned and couldn't fall asleep until she suddenly remembered this.

Little Pear Blossom, who had never visited relatives in Dalian before, honestly didn't know what to give as a gift the next day, so she dug out the brand-new hair dryer that her mother had left her.

As for Luo Xiaobei actually bringing gifts today, Gu Youli never expected it.

"Aunt Guan."

Gu Youli picked up the two gift bags next to Guan Qiaoyun and placed them on the side table next to the sofa in the corner:

"Is it okay to put it here?"

"Well, leave it there."

Gu Youli first put down Luo Xiaobei's bag, then paused, pushed the bag back a little, and then put her own big bag in front, which blocked Luo Xiaobei's slightly smaller bag.

"..."

Everything proceeded very naturally.

It seemed to happen without any conscious thought, almost instinctively.

Gu Youli herself didn't know why she did it subconsciously. After making this unintentional little detail, she slightly raised her chin, and a faint light flickered in her clear eyes.

It's as if it carries the same stubbornness as when facing difficult problems in your studies.

Then, as usual, he watched TV and chatted with Guan Qiaoyun while glancing towards the kitchen every now and then.

----------

"Hello~"

"I'm not called 'Hey,' I'm called..."

In the kitchen, Guan Ren was taking the ingredients out of the plastic bags one by one, preparing to sort and wash them. He turned around while responding, but when he saw Luo Xiaobei standing at the door, he couldn't help but pause for a moment.

Because he hadn't seen Luo Xiaobei dressed so meticulously in a long time.

The combination of a pink baseball jacket and a black flannel pleated skirt is quite conventional. Her long legs, encased in black velvet tights under the skirt, also match the ankle boots she wore when she arrived.

But besides that, Luo Xiaobei's hairstyle has also changed.

Her usual pigtails have been replaced with a jellyfish-style updo today, which adds a touch of softness to her already sweet look, making Guan Ren feel a little unfamiliar with her.

"you you…"

"I...I...you idiot..."

Seeing Guan Ren's staring eyes, Luo Xiaobei found it amusing, and her face flushed. She put her hands behind her back, staring at the vegetables on the cutting board, ignoring him. Only after she had swayed past did she casually say:

"I'm here to help out. Tell me, what do you want to do?"

"No, no, no, don't help out yet."

Guan Ren rubbed his forehead, then rubbed his eyes, and looked Qingmei up close again, scrutinizing her until she blushed slightly before finally asking:

Why did you change your hairstyle?

"Just change it occasionally, it's not like we haven't changed it before..."

Luo Xiaobei glanced at him sideways:
"What's wrong? Do you have a problem with it?"

"No...no objection."

"Speak up if you have any opinions."

"Not really."

"must have!"

Luo Xiaobei frowned. He really didn't have it? That wouldn't do! So she directly wrapped her arms around his waist, forcing him to look at her with his slightly evasive eyes:
"Tell me!"

"What are you saying..."

"Opinions?"

"cough…"

Guan Ren coughed lightly, sensing that something was wrong.

Because at this moment, I was actually a little afraid to look at Qingmei, and my heart was inexplicably racing, which was very unusual.

But he managed to adjust to Luo Xiaobei's unusually sweet and gentle demeanor today, and seeing her looking at him with somewhat hesitant eyes, he said:
"My opinion is...it looks good..."

"Who's prettier~?"

"You, you're beautiful."

"Hee hee~"

Luo Xiaobei revealed her white little tiger teeth, and the beauty mark under her eye had a mischievous charm that only a little fox spirit could possess.

It's just a new hairstyle, is it really that drastic...?

Guan Ren thought to himself that the sweet fragrance emanating from Qingmei seemed even stronger than usual, even a little... tempting, like a strawberry after it has been washed and is so translucent that it makes one want to take a bite of the delicate, pinkish skin on her body.

For example, the face.

Something like that…

"Alright, move aside first."

Qingmei was still hugging when Guan Ren glanced towards the door and patted her arm:

"Aren't you afraid that Gu Youli will see it?"

Guan Ren feels that his childhood friend, now in their second year of high school, still enjoys sticking together like they did when they were little. He thinks it could be the subject of a Japanese light novel.

Just like usual, Luo Xiaobei is told to keep a low profile and not to expose herself in front of "outsiders".

Unexpectedly, Guan Ren's words did not drive Luo Xiaobei away; instead, she seemed to feel herself being hugged even tighter.

"You and Gu Youli...aren't you on pretty good terms? You're practically family, so..."

As Luo Xiaobei spoke, she continued to gaze sweetly at her childhood friend, her mouth opening and closing in a whisper as she moved her arms around his waist to hang around his neck, displaying a coquettish intimacy.
"...So if she sees it, let her see it!"

(End of this chapter)