Reborn and awakened, this time I won't be a love-struck fool.

"no."

Song Zhi's attitude was firm: "I just want a nice outfit that will show we're a couple. Is that so hard to ask?"

Unable to persuade him, Xu Pan could only look helplessly at her own son.

"..."

Xu Jingwang tilted his head back and drank two more mouthfuls of ice water.

I managed to calm myself down.

With the wedding just around the corner, I can't betray my family for the sake of the wedding.

Song Zhi sighed, "You unfilial son, you actually side with outsiders."

"Sorry, I really dislike demanding clients." Xu Jingwang left, clutching the remaining half-bottle of ice water.

Song Zhi glared at him, only turning his gaze away after the man left.

He felt a deep sense of melancholy. "Why did I have to give birth to a son? And such an unfilial one at that. If it were a daughter... if it were a sweet and caring daughter..."

He was lost in a beautiful dream.

"My son is very well-behaved, a real sweetheart." Xu Pan pouted, clearly disagreeing with his statement.

Song Zhi clicked his tongue. "Whose side are you on anyway?"

Xu Pan retorted, "Then who are you on board?"

She looked at Song Zhi.

Even as he gets older, he remains handsome. His skin hasn't sagged due to years of fitness training, but the wrinkles around his eyes still betray his age.

When Xu Pan first met Song Zhi, she was wearing tattered clothes and was covered in dust.

She is very perceptive of how others perceive her.

You could feel the disdain in his eyes, as if she were some kind of trash.

Fortunately, she was able to stay at the manor.

She can go to and from school with the young master.

Xu Pan loves going to school, makes many good friends, and can immerse herself in learning.

From elementary school to junior high, she was always Song Zhi's little shadow, helping him carry his schoolbag, copy his homework, bring him water, get his coat, hold his umbrella, and so on.

Both of them attended Huaguang High School.

Most of the children of powerful and wealthy families in the capital studied at Huaguang School, including the eldest son of the Lin family.

Song Zhi and Lin Chuanqiong are notorious rivals who can't stand each other. They weren't even in the same middle school, but now they're in the same high school, and they argue every two days and fight every three days.

Xu Pan was very worried.

One day, after Song Zhi finished fighting, he came out of the alley carrying his school uniform and immediately saw Xu Pan squatting by the roadside reading a comic book.

The girl's pleated skirt hung down to her knees, revealing her slender, white calves and ankles. Her hair was tied in a ponytail, and her eyes were slightly moist, showing that she was very worried about him.

Song Zhi leaned down. "Xu Pan, are you that worried about me?"

"Um."

Xu Pan nodded heavily.

This person is her benefactor; if something happens to him, he won't be paying for her tuition and living expenses anymore.

Xu Pan had recently seen a video of a group of thugs getting into a fight, and one of them was stabbed to death. He didn't even get to the hospital before his kidney ruptured.

She looked up at Song Zhi.

The boy had faint bruises on his cheekbones, but his lips were very red.

His features were striking and handsome, each one captivating on its own, with jet-black eyelashes and red lips and white teeth.

When you get slightly closer like this, it gives off a feeling of both deep affection and indifference.

Actually, Song Zhi's looks are very appealing to girls.

He's beautiful, handsome, and evokes a strong protective instinct in others.

However, he has a very eccentric and neurotic personality, and his temper is unpredictable. One second he's laughing, and the next he'll pick up a chair and smash someone.

When I was in school, I once brought my pet to school, which scared the girl in front of me so much that she crawled on the floor. She was called in by the teacher and reluctantly put it back.

He's quite good-looking, but nobody dares to pursue him.

Song Zhi perfectly exemplifies what it means to be "poisonous when it's beautiful".

Logically speaking, Xu Pan should be afraid of him.

But they grew up together and are very close.

She had seen him terrified during thunderstorms, refusing to sleep no matter what, and eventually hiding under the covers to cry secretly.

"Don't be impulsive next time," Xu Pan whispered. "What if something happens?"

"That's impossible." Song Zhi curled his lips. "If something really happens, it'll be that idiot surnamed Lin who'll be the first to die."

"Pah!"

Lin Chuanqiong's voice sounded from behind.

He was carrying his school uniform in one hand, followed by his bruised and battered underlings. "All you do is talk bad about me behind my back, you coward."

Song Zhi slowly straightened up. "Then I'll say it to your face now, so don't back down."

"Whoever backs down is a coward."

Lin Chuanqiong scoffed dismissively.

He glanced at Xu Pan and sighed, "It's like a beautiful flower stuck in cow dung."

Song Niufen: "...?"

Xu Pan quickly waved her hand, "We're not in that kind of relationship."

Song Zhi felt even worse.

He was just a little unsure whether it was because of Lin Chuanqiong's insult or because of Xu Pan's vehement denial.

"...That's good."

Lin Chuanqiong laughed, glanced at Song Zhi, and left with his underlings.

Song Zhi looked down at her.

The girl, head down, was stuffing comic books into her backpack. After finishing, she zipped it up, stood up, and asked, "Are you coming or not?"

Song Zhi gave an unpleasant "hmm".

The two got into the car.

Song Zhi signaled to the driver to raise the partition.

He turned his head to look at Xu Pan.

Xu Pan was intently looking at the scenery outside the window.

From Song Zhi's perspective, one can see a slender neck, very fair, and small earlobes.

He was inexplicably a little irritated, so he grabbed her ponytail and gestured for her to turn around.

Xu Pan, still confused, turned around and asked, "What's wrong?"

Song Zhi withdrew his hand, looked at her with a sour face, and asked, "Am I some kind of monster?"

"what……"

Xu Pan was even more confused. "What?"

"Why did you deny it so quickly?" he asked.

A feeling of displeasure lingered in my heart.

Xu Pan was even more confused. "I'm afraid they'll misunderstand."

"So what if it's a misunderstanding? I'm not worried. What are you worried about?" Song Zhi glared at her.

Xu Pan: "..."

She opened her mouth, then closed it again.

Finally, I couldn't help but say, "I really don't understand what you're talking about."

"...If anyone should be clarifying this, it's me," Song Zhi said matter-of-factly. "Do you need to meddle?"

"……good."

Xu Pan lowered her head and remained silent.

Song Zhi: "..."

He became even more agitated.

They arrived at the manor in silence.

Xu Pan carried her schoolbag back to her room, while Song Zhi played video games in his room, feeling restless.

He didn't come until the nanny called him to dinner.

When Song Zhi arrived at the dinner table, he found that Xu Pan was not there.

He put down his fork and turned to ask the nanny.

The nanny said, "Panpan said she's not hungry and won't eat tonight."

Song Zhi coldly replied, "Eat it or don't, it's up to you."

He took a bite of salad, then half a minute later, unable to bear it any longer, he stood up, put down what he was holding, and knocked on Xu Pan's door.

She probably didn't expect it would be him knocking on the door.

She opened the door, a smile still on her lips, "Aunt He, I really don't want to eat..."

That sentence came to an abrupt end.

The smile vanished from her face. She pursed her lips and asked cautiously, "What's wrong?"

Song Zhi was seething inside. "Why aren't you eating?"

"I'm not hungry," Xu Pan said.

"You have to eat even if you're not hungry."

Song Zhi frowned as he spoke.

He felt deep down that Xu Pan wasn't actually not hungry; she was just angry and didn't want to eat at the same table as him.

"I'm really not hungry," Xu Pan said.

In fact, she had already gotten used to being bossed around by Song Zhi.

She treated this person like her boss, and she could accept it no matter how rude he was.

I can accept it rationally, but I still feel a little sad inside.

A sadness I can't quite explain.

"Xu Pan," Song Zhi had no choice but to resort to his ultimate weapon, "If you don't eat tonight, you won't eat tomorrow either."

Xu Pan pursed her lips, "If I don't want to eat, I won't."

She is still a person, no matter what.

Song Zhi: "..."

He was so angry he gritted his teeth. "Fine."

When he returned to the restaurant, he looked at the table full of delicious food but had no appetite. He finally drank a couple of sips of water and left.

The next day is the weekend.

Song Zhi hadn't slept well all night. When he got up, the servants had already prepared breakfast.

He rubbed his temples. "Where's Xu Pan?"

"Panpan has gone out," the maid said.

Song Zhi was taken aback. "Where did you go?"

The maid shook her head: "I don't know, I only know that she went out to play with her classmates."

Song Zhi: "..."

He has always preferred Western food.

This morning, my aunt made yogurt bowls and sandwiches.

He finished his breakfast slowly with his head down, then called the butler over with a sullen face.

Uncle Yu greeted him, "Young Master."

Song Zhi ordered, "Find out where Xu Pan is now, who's with her, and what she's doing."

"Yes." Uncle Yu quickly withdrew.

Five minutes later, Song Zhi received a file folder.

He slowly opened it; inside were several photos.

One photo shows Xu Pan waiting for a bus at a bus stop, another shows her getting on the bus, and the third shows her standing at the entrance of a shopping mall, meeting up with her classmates.

There was also an introduction about this female classmate next to it.

She and Xu Pan are good friends; they often go to and from get out of class together and eat together.

Song Zhi had some impression of this person.

Soon we'll look ahead.

One photo shows the two of them sitting in a noodle shop eating noodles.

The last photo is still taken in the noodle shop, but now there's a boy in it.

He sat in the chair next to her, smiling as he stared at Xu Pan.

Men understand men best.

Song Zhi didn't even need to look at this person's information to tell that he liked Xu Pan.

"..."

Song Zhi crumpled the file folder with a blank expression.

The anger and violence in my heart piled up layer upon layer.

He went to arrest the person himself in the car. When he arrived at the mall, Xu Pan was playing claw machines with two other people.

She's terrible at claw machines; every time she grabs something, it falls off just as it's about to come out.

I finally managed to catch a little sheep plush toy.

She excitedly grabbed it, wanting to show it to her best friend, but when she turned her head, Song Zhi was standing a few steps away with a gloomy face.

Xu Pan: "..."

The boy came over and picked up her hat, like he was carrying a chick. "Go back."

The two people next to him stared blankly at him.

The boy seemed to want to say something, but Song Zhi gave him a cold glance.

The boy immediately shut his mouth, lowered his head, and dared not speak again.

Xu Pan pursed her lips. "Why?"

"There's no reason," Song Zhi said coldly. "I'll say it one last time: go back."

Xu Pan: "..."

She had been used to listening to Song Zhi since she was a child.

She didn't dare to resist, and could only cautiously ask, "I don't want to go back now, can I go back later?"

"Can't."

Song Zhi glanced at the boy again.

He would never let those two play together.

Not even a minute longer.

Xu Pan eventually obeyed and went back with him.

On the way back, he held the doll and leaned against the car door, silent and with his head down.

Song Zhi knew she was unhappy.

Young Master Song has never comforted anyone since birth, nor does he need to take the initiative to talk to others.

So I couldn't think of anything to say the whole way.

Back at the manor, Xu Pan held the lamb doll's horns and said, "I'm going back."

His tone was low, and he kept his head down while speaking.

Song Zhi slowly exhaled. "Feeling wronged?"

"No." Xu Pan kept her head down.

The boy was extremely annoyed, and finally grabbed her chin, forcing her to look up.

Her eyes were red and swollen, and tears were about to fall.

In that instant, Song Zhi's hand felt as if it had been scalded by hot water.

He quickly withdrew his hand.

Xu Pan sniffed. "I'm going back."

Song Zhi watched her retreating figure.

She had probably made plans to go out with friends today, so she specially changed into a long dress, a very light blue one, with layers of sheer fabric, and was holding a doll with little sheep horns in her hand.

"..."

He scratched his head, feeling even more annoyed.

This feeling of unease continued into the evening.

He went to Xu Pan's room again and knocked on the door.

The person inside slowly opened the door.

"What's wrong now?"

Xu Pan had clearly taken a shower and was wearing pajamas.

"Do you like that ugly woman?" Song Zhi asked matter-of-factly.

Xu Pan: "...What ugly monster?"

"It's the guy you were playing claw machines with today." Song Zhi crossed his arms and stared intently at her.

"I don't like him, we're just friends," Xu Pan said.

Song Zhi: "Don't give me that. I don't believe in friendship between men and women."

Xu Pan: "Believe it or not, it's up to you."

As she finished speaking and was about to close the door, a hand reached out from the side.

Song Zhi frowned. "I wasn't finished speaking, why are you closing the door?"

"Then what else do you want to say?" Xu Pan asked, trying to remain calm.

The boy pondered for a moment, then said, "You're still young, you're not allowed to date, understand?"

"I have no plans to be in a relationship." Xu Pan's face turned red with anger.

Upon hearing her say this, Song Zhi's expression softened. "That's fine then."

Xu Pan: "...Is there anything else?"

I'll take you out to play tomorrow.

The boy lowered his voice, and in the quiet corridor, it sounded surprisingly gentle.

He reached out and gently pinched Xu Pan's cheek, then pinched the bridge of her nose. "Don't be sad. You can do whatever you want tomorrow."

Xu Pan: "..."

"I really don't understand. Since you let me go out and have fun, why are you letting me leave today?"

"Are you really stupid or just pretending?" Song Zhi looked at her. "Can't you tell that ugly woman likes you today?"

Xu Pan: "...That's impossible."

Song Zhi sneered, "You actually believe him, but not me."

"Is it a matter of who to believe?" Xu Pan asked calmly. "I just feel that he treats me as an ordinary friend."

"The way he looks at you isn't innocent," Song Zhi said.

Xu Pan then asked, "How innocuous are you?"

The boy leaned closer, the scent of shampoo wafting from her hair. He looked into her eyes, a slight smile playing on his lips.

He spoke slowly and deliberately.

"Just as unclean as I am."