My girlfriend was reborn.

Chapter 131 If I have a guilty conscience

My maternal grandmother's dining table is round, and there's plenty of room for six or seven people.

At this moment, the four of them sat at a corner of the dining table, with the news playing on the television, giving Zhou Heming a feeling of returning to the past.

Grandma sat in the seat closest to the kitchen, next to Zhou Heming, then Lu Bai, and finally Cheng Shuangjiang.

"I just made it casually, I don't know if it suits your taste."

Grandma greeted her.

She looked at Lu Bai first.

"Come and try this steamed beef with rice flour, it's delicious."

"Okay, Grandma."

Lu Bai obediently picked up a piece of beef coated in steamed rice flour and put it in the bowl. Then, she casually picked up another piece and gave it to Zhou Heming.

"It's delicious! The flavor is much richer than what I've had in restaurants."

She took a bite, her eyes lit up immediately, and she praised it.

"It's not as good as what you get in restaurants, it's just that they make it too often."

Grandma smiled happily and looked at Cheng Shuangjiang.

"Come and try this cured pork, it's homemade."

"Ah."

Cheng Shuangjiang nodded, picked up a slightly leaner piece of cured meat, glanced at Zhou Heming, and then put it in her mouth.

"delicious."

she commented.

"I added some Sichuan peppercorn powder, so it's a little spicy. I don't know if you can handle it."

As Grandma spoke, she also put a piece of meat into Zhou Heming's bowl.

"I can get used to the food."

Cheng Shuangjiang responded.

"These pea shoots are also delicious, they're stir-fried with pork cracklings."

Grandma then urged the two of them to eat vegetables.

Lu Bai generously picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks, put it in his mouth and chewed it, making a crisp crunching sound.

"She doesn't really like this kind of food."

Zhou Heming hurriedly explained.

"No."

Cheng Shuangjiang looked at the lush green vegetables, then at her grandmother who was eagerly waiting, and reluctantly picked up two stalks. She put them in her mouth, trying her best to keep her expression in check.

"I can eat it."

"."

Zhou Heming ate a couple of mouthfuls of rice without saying much.

Grandma started chatting with the two girls about everyday things again.

"So you're Ah Bai's older sister. Sigh, poor her."

When Grandma learned about Lu Bai and Lu Qian's relationship, she frowned.

As a neighbor in the town, she naturally knew what had happened to the Lu family.

"Let's not talk about that. Heming said, 'Ah Bai, you're an actor, haven't you acted in a lot of plays?'"

Grandma changed the subject.

"Yes, but they are short dramas and web series, not the kind shown on TV."

Lu Bai smiled.

“I’ve seen some of them too, look.”

Grandma picked up her phone, opened a short video app, and quickly found a short drama where a woman's legs were broken by the housekeeper because she danced too well.

"This is very popular recently, hahaha. Actually, the child actor did a pretty good job."

Lu Bai began to share her experiences. Although her grandmother didn't understand much about the film and television industry, she had watched many similar short videos and listened with great interest.

Zhou Heming had heard Lu Bai talk about these things before, so he was able to chime in with a few words.

Cheng Shuangjiang, on the other hand, couldn't join the conversation and could only eat her food silently while listening to the three of them chat.

Noticing this, Lu Bai, who had placed a slice of lotus root on Zhou Heming's plate, spoke up.

"Speaking of which, when is Cheng Shuangjiang planning to go back to school to pick up her admission letter?"

"We should wait until August."

Cheng Shuangjiang seemed somewhat surprised that Lu Bai had given her a topic to discuss, and hesitated for a moment before answering.

"Grandma, you don't know, Cheng Shuangjiang is the top student in the province, her grades are excellent!"

Lu Bai praised her again.

"Wow, that's amazing! The top scorer in the province, so he's going to Yannan Huaqing University, right?"

Even my grandmother knew about these two schools. After all, when we were kids, everyone was talking about how their children should get into these two top universities, but very few of them could actually do so.

"Not ready yet."

Cheng Shuangjiang picked up the bowl and ate two bites of rice.

Zhou Heming felt that she hadn't decided yet, probably whether to go to Yannan or Huaqing.

"Heming, you should learn from others and study so hard."

Grandma had just said one sentence when she turned to muttering something else.

"But you got into Ningjiang University, which is a good school. It's all good, all good."

She is an encouraging parent who doesn't harshly criticize her child's shortcomings.

"Yes, I'm also at Ningjiang University. Zhou Heming and I plan to rent a place together outside the university."

Lu Bai said with a smile.

Cheng Shuangjiang stopped eating, her mouth seemingly chewing something, yet also seemingly just pretending to eat.

"Then you can buy your own groceries and cook for yourselves. Don't always eat takeout. Be careful with the school cafeteria. I've heard people say that the cafeterias are shady these days."

Grandma probably saw it on some marketing account.

The older generation didn't seem to react much to the idea that the two of them would be living together after starting university.

"Grandma, Ningjiang University is a 985 university, so the cafeteria won't cut corners."

Zhou Heming sighed and tried to correct the old woman's views, but his grandmother seemed to let it go in one ear and out the other, not taking it to heart at all. Instead, she looked at the two girls with a lot of emotion.

"Hey, you two girls are both so amazing. My Heming is a bit too good for you."

"?"

Zhou Heming was taken aback.

Grandma, what are you saying? What do you mean by not being worthy or not?

Upon hearing this, the two girls reacted in completely different ways.

Cheng Shuangjiang immediately stiffened, secretly observing Lu Bai and Zhou Heming's expressions, biting her lower lip lightly, seemingly unsure how to respond.

Lu Bai, on the other hand, had a broad smile on his face.

"No, Zhou Heming is a very good person. It's my blessing to be with him."

As she spoke, she leaned closer to Zhou Heming.

"Sigh, if you two live a good life together, then Grandma will be at ease."

Grandma said, as if she were deeply moved.

"He's actually a really nice person."

Suddenly, Cheng Shuangjiang blurted out a sentence.

Zhou Heming was stunned for a moment before realizing that he was answering his grandmother's words earlier.

"I'll be satisfied if Heming grows up well, doesn't do bad things, and doesn't become a bad person."

As Grandma spoke, she picked up the bowl of rice that she had already finished eating.

"You all enjoy your meal. I'm going downstairs to take a walk with the old lady next door to help me digest."

She waved and climbed down the stairs.

Only three young people remained in the living room.

The weather forecast on TV indicates that there will be light rain tomorrow.

"Speaking of which, Cheng Shuangjiang, do you have any spare clothes?"

Lu Bai was watching TV when he suddenly asked a question.

"Bring it."

Cheng Shuangjiang glanced at her handbag.

I don't know when it was tidied up.

"We'll make your bed for you later. Um, you'll have to make do and share a room with us."

Lu Bai continued.

It has the feel of a hostess entertaining guests.

".good."

Cheng Shuangjiang glanced at Zhou Heming and nodded.

"Also, there's a Mystic Lord Ceremony this year, in three days. Would you like to go and take a look?" Lu Bai asked her.

"You want to go see it?"

Cheng Shuangjiang hesitated for a moment, then asked in return.

After all, the Xuanjun ritual from back then left a very deep impression on Lu Bai, and it was hard to say whether it would cause him stress.

"We should face it eventually."

Lu Bai smiled.

"Then I'll go too."

Cheng Shuangjiang nodded.

Aren't you going to ask for my opinion?

Zhou Heming pondered that Lu Bai had arranged accommodation for Cheng Shuangjiang and confirmed the itinerary for three days later, but it seemed that he hadn't asked Lu Bai about it.

"So, are you against it? Or are you willing to sleep in the living room?"

A smile appeared on Lu Bai's lips.

"It's too hot to sleep in the living room."

Zhou Heming changed the subject.

*
After dinner, the three of them cleaned the table and washed the dishes together.

When I helped Cheng Shuangjiang set up her bedding in the room, Grandma came back.

The family sat in front of the TV watching TV, taking turns to wash up in the bathroom. Around 10 p.m., Grandma yawned and went upstairs to her room first.

"This is 'Scent of a Woman,' a classic movie."

Zhou Heming switched to the movie channel and found that a movie was just starting.

He sat on the right side of the sofa, with Lu Bai to his right and Cheng Shuangjiang to his left. The three of them watched an old movie playing on TV.

Zhou Heming felt his right hand being entangled by Lu Bai's fingers. She curled up on the sofa, leaned on Zhou Heming's shoulder, hugged his arm, and snuggled closer. The faint fragrance of her hair after her shower wafted into his nose, stirring the young man's heartstrings.

Cheng Shuangjiang sat upright watching the movie, but her eyes seemed to be glancing in this direction out of the corner of her eye.

It has to be said that even in his old age, Al Pacino is still a handsome old man. Although Zhou Heming had seen this movie once before, he was now immersed in the story.

Cheng Shuangjiang got up and went to the restroom halfway through, but quickly sat back down.

However, Zhou Heming glanced at his side and felt that Cheng Shuangjiang seemed to be much closer to him. Originally, there was a space between them, like his grandmother's, but now there was only about ten centimeters between them, and their elbows could occasionally brush against each other.

But Lu Bai didn't seem to notice that she was initially chatting with Zhou Heming about the movie plot, but later seemed to be overcome by sleepiness. Her voice became thick and soft, her breathing slowed down, and she seemed to have fallen asleep leaning against Zhou Heming.

The movie happened to be showing the most classic tango scene.

Zhou Heming recalled the scene of him and Lu Bai dancing in the snow on New Year's Eve this year.

He glanced at the sleeping girl, and the conversation from earlier that day came to mind.

Zhou Heming didn't know whether Lu Bai's love for him stemmed from Lu Qian, but he knew that the perfect love he was pursuing might have been unattainable long ago.

The kind of love he longed for—to know each other, to understand each other, to love each other, to be devoted to one another for life—was lost forever with the reborn Cheng Shuangjiang.

He couldn't give Lu Bai the love he considered the purest, most sincere, and most passionate, because from any perspective, Zhou Heming's first love was someone else.

Even if Lu Bai didn't mind, Zhou Heming himself would feel indebted.

Therefore, Zhou Heming felt that it didn't really matter whether Lu Bai's love stemmed from making amends to Lu Qian.

He just wants to walk hand in hand with the girl beside him now and spend the rest of his life together.

In the movie, when the music ended, applause broke out.

Cheng Shuangjiang slightly raised her hand and tidied the hair that was hanging down by her ear.

then.

Just as she lowered her hand.

That soft, warm hand, with faint scars, touched Zhou Heming's left hand.

I thought he would immediately pull his hand away, but this time, he didn't move it.

Instead, it landed somewhat nervously on the back of Zhou Heming's left hand.

Glancing at the girl beside him, Zhou Heming noticed that Cheng Shuangjiang was staring intently at the television, as if nothing had happened.

Lu Bai was still breathing evenly, and hugged Zhou Heming's right arm tighter.

Zhou Heming thought of what his grandmother had said before dinner.

"Both of these girls like you."

Lu Bai was very clear to him, but Zhou Heming found Cheng Shuangjiang to be very difficult to understand.

After all, it was she herself, at eighteen years old, who uttered those resolute words that morning.

Moreover, even if we take a step back and say...

Even if Cheng Shuangjiang really has feelings for Zhou Heming because of those memories of being with him, Zhou Heming cannot face Cheng Shuangjiang's feelings. For him, Zhou Heming cannot distinguish whether his feelings for the current Cheng Shuangjiang are for her as a person or for that illusion.

After thinking for a moment, Zhou Heming slightly raised his left hand, intending to pull it away.

But the next moment.

Cheng Shuangjiang gently squeezed his fingers.

Those scarred, slender, and nimble fingers slipped between his fingers, their five fingers gripping Zhou Heming's hand from the back of his own.

Zhou Heming stopped what he was doing.

Now that things have come to this, he can no longer deceive himself.

Eighteen-year-old Cheng Shuangjiang did indeed like herself.

He didn't know the source of this love.

But as Cheng Shuangjiang, who was reborn, said.

No matter how they met, she eventually fell in love with him.

A rustling sound came from beside him. Zhou Heming glanced over and saw Cheng Shuangjiang pull her feet out of her slippers, curl up her legs and sit on the sofa. Then, as if she was tired of sitting, she gently hugged Zhou Heming's left arm and leaned her head against him.

Even though Lu Bai was on the other side.

It seems that, regardless of what she has been through, Cheng Shuangjiang herself is more radical and daring.

Zhou Heming dared not move.

Although he had slept in the same bed with two other people during the college entrance examination, at that time their relationship was completely innocent and he had no regrets.

but now.

Zhou Heming felt that, at the very least, Cheng Shuangjiang should have a guilty conscience.

He could only focus his attention on the movie.

Fortunately, the movie was good enough.

After Al Pacino's impassioned speech, the film came to an end, and the end credits and credits began to play. Zhou Heming seemed to finally be able to relax a little.

He glanced at Cheng Shuangjiang.

I discovered that she had actually fallen asleep, hugging her arm.

No, why do you all like to sleep like this? If you're really sleepy, just go to bed.

Zhou Heming's hand was still being held by Cheng Shuangjiang.

He was completely unable to move.

At this time.

A slight nasal sound came from the right, and Lu Bai slowly raised his face.

She woke up.

"Hmm, is the movie over?"

Lu Bai asked softly.

"Ah."

Zhou Heming nodded, and was about to use his left hand to gently pinch Cheng Shuangjiang awake when Lu Bai glanced over.

She looked at Cheng Shuangjiang, who was nestled on Zhou Heming's shoulder, and then looked at Zhou Heming.

".This is."

Zhou Heming organized his thoughts, trying to explain.

He could only be thankful that he hadn't responded to Cheng Shuangjiang's offer to hold his hand, and that Lu Bai probably hadn't seen Cheng Shuangjiang's action of holding his fingers.

"Looks like everyone's tired today, hehe."

Lu Bai didn't seem to care. Instead, he raised his face and gently pressed his lips to Zhou Heming's lips.

This was a kiss as damp, lingering, and all-pervasive as the plum rains of June.

Lu Bai supported himself by Zhou Heming's thigh, and put his other hand on his shoulder.

Zhou Heming's right hand naturally wrapped around Lu Bai's slender waist.

Breaths mingled, longing intertwined, and love grew.

As that scorching breath echoed through the living room.

Cheng Shuangjiang seemed to be shaken by Zhou Heming's movements, and she slowly opened her sleepy eyes.

immediately.

A scene where the aura of a boy and a girl blends together.

It came into her view.

*
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(End of this chapter)