Rebirth begins with picking up a cold and aloof school beauty

After Xia Yu "occupied" his own room, Chen Zhou went to another bedroom.

Looking at his phone, which only had one bar of battery left, Chen Zhou instinctively looked for a charger, but ended up only finding a universal charger.

"It really is an old relic!" Chen Zhou said with a smile.

Remove the phone battery and charge it with a universal charger.

With the curtains drawn and the lights off, Chen Zhou lay on the bed in the pitch-black bedroom, listening to the pattering rain outside the window.

Right now, there's no TikTok, no games, no Zhihu, no internet...

The few comics that could be used for entertainment, such as "Naruto" and "One Piece", as well as a few physical copies of the web novel "Tomb of the Gods", were all in Xia Yu's room.

Moreover, Chen Zhou, with the soul of a middle-aged man, no longer has the same interest in these things as he did in his youth.

He's only interested in making money and building a career now!

As for beautiful women... ah no, that's called love!

Chen Zhou deeply understands this saying: You will eventually understand that your future is more important than love, you will also understand that love is more precious than your future, but in the end you will understand that the right person will stand in your future.

Therefore, making money and building a career should always be the top priority!

Lost in thought, Chen Zhou felt that time seemed to slow down considerably, and the night became unbearably long.

His years-long insomnia was cured!

Chen Zhou drifted off to sleep at some point, and the autumn rain outside continued until dawn.

Nothing happened that night.

When Chen Zhou woke up again, it was already bright outside and the sun had come out.

Chen Zhou's first thought was to check if Xia Yu was still at home. As soon as he stepped out of the bedroom, he saw Xia Yu in the living room, having changed back into her clothes, sitting upright on a small stool in front of the coffee table watching TV.

The TV was showing the idol drama "Fated to Love You," starring Joe Chen and Ethan Juan.

Xia Yu's focused expression made it seem as if she had never watched a TV series before.

Chen Zhou smiled. No matter what, he had at least changed Xia Yu's fate.

He greeted her in a good mood, "Good morning, Xia Yu."

Xia Yu then noticed Chen Zhou, her charming gaze falling on him, her fair hand waving in front of her chest.

"Good morning." Perhaps remembering the embarrassment of last night, Xia Yu's face turned slightly red.

Chen Zhou asked, "Are you hungry?"

Xia Yu nodded honestly.

Chen Zhou smiled and walked towards the door without turning his head, saying, "You stay at home, I'll go buy you breakfast."

Xia Yu nodded happily, "Yes!"

Chen Zhou found it quite amusing that the aloof school beauty was actually a weirdo.

After going out for a while, Chen Zhou called a locksmith who opened the door to 402 and paid him.

Then, the two had breakfast together.

Fried dough sticks, soy milk, and steamed buns.

Seeing Xia Yu's eating manners, which were not aloof at all, and even rather unreserved, with her little mouth stuffed full of steamed buns, making her look like a little foodie, Chen Zhou felt that this school beauty was too unexpected!

Chen Zhou said with a smile, "Xia Yu, eat slowly, your mouth is almost full."

After swallowing the food in her mouth, Xia Yu said apologetically, "Oh, I'm sorry."

She stole a glance at Chen Zhou, only to find him staring at her with a smile in his eyes.

Xia Yu was stunned for a moment. "W-what's wrong?"

Chen Zhou smiled, wiped the grease from Xia Yu's mouth with a tissue, and said with a hint of teasing, "To be honest, the real you is completely different from the you I remember. You're not aloof at all."

Chen Zhou paused for a moment, then said, "But there's one thing about you that completely matches my impression."

Xia Yu asked curiously, "Wh-what?"

Chen Zhou said, "You're really beautiful!"

Hearing Chen Zhou's somewhat unserious praise, Xia Yu was stunned. She felt her cheeks flush and her heart pound.

My heart was pounding like a deer's.

She wanted to say something, and moved her cherry-like lips, but because of her slight stutter, she could only manage an "Oh~" in the end.

A hint of disappointment flashed in the depths of Xia Yu's beautiful eyes.

Chen Zhou knew that Xia Yu's aloofness in the eyes of outsiders was actually a protective layer, shielding her self-esteem.

Chen Zhou understood her frustration. She clearly had a lot to say, but because she spoke haltingly, she couldn't express herself fluently.

You'll also be laughed at.

Chen Zhou softened considerably, smiling as he comforted Xia Yu, "Xia Yu, do you know? If someone is perfect in the eyes of others, without the slightest flaw, they will not only live a very tiring life, but it will also be very meaningless, lacking the feeling of a living, breathing human being."

"Just like how you appear to outsiders as fair-skinned, beautiful, long-legged, aloof academic genius with a huge scandal."

"In the eyes of outsiders, including in my eyes in the past, you are perfect, but you lack a sense of being alive and real."

"But things are different now. Although we haven't known each other for long and don't know each other well, we've seen your little flaws, like your slight stutter, your love of food, and your slightly absent-mindedness..."

At this point, Chen Zhou's smile deepened, and a tender glint appeared in the depths of his eyes.

"But it's precisely because of your flaws that you're more real and more adorable!"

Chen Zhou spoke with heartfelt sincerity, and Xia Yu listened attentively. After thinking for a moment, she tilted her head and asked innocently, "What...what does 'big thunder' mean?"

Chen Zhou almost spat out a mouthful of soy milk onto Xia Yu's innocent face.

Why is this girl's focus so peculiar?

Is your brain circuitry different from others?

Chen Zhou couldn't explain it, so he could only come up with an excuse: "It's just for the sake of rhyming."

Xia Yu: "Oh."

She thought for a moment, then asked curiously, "Chen Zhou, do you... do you have any flaws?"

Chen Zhou replied frankly, "Of course!"

Xia Yu pressed further, "For example, how about..."

Chen Zhou said smugly, "Greedy!"

Xia Yu thought for a moment, then seemed to understand and said "Oh." She then asked curiously, "Is...is there anything else?"

Chen Zhou hissed. He thought about it carefully and realized that apart from being greedy, he seemed to have no other flaws!

Having lived two lives, Chen Zhou has always been irreconcilably opposed to gambling and drugs!

Just as Chen Zhou was thinking this, Xia Yu noticed that Chen Zhou's gaze was fixed on her chest.

Xia Yu's pretty face flushed red, and she crossed her arms in front of her chest.

At the same time, she recalled the embarrassing scene from last night.

Having realized Chen Zhou's other flaw, Xia Yu said, slowly and deliberately, with a hint of reproach, "Pervert! Wolf!"

Chen Zhou regretfully withdrew his gaze, cleared his throat, and stood up to ease the awkwardness, saying, "Alright, I'm going out now. Anyway, if you ever want to find a friend to confide in or someone to listen, you can come next door anytime. I will never laugh at your stutter; on the contrary, I think you are very genuine and adorable."

Xia Yu smiled, her peach blossom eyes crinkling, but with a hint of uncertainty, "Really? Really?"

Chen Zhou nodded: "Of course it's true!"

Xia Yu smiled brightly, revealing a pair of beautiful dimples. "No, you're not lying to me?"

Chen Zhou hummed in agreement: "I'm absolutely not lying to you!"

After saying that, Chen Zhou extended his right little finger and made a promise to Xia Yu, as if coaxing a child.

Uh... that's a strange metaphor.

But what puzzled Chen Zhou even more was that when he looked at Xia Yu's sweet, smiling eyes, he felt somewhat dazed.

It looks familiar!

However, he didn't think much of it and went out the door one after the other with Xia Yu.

Xia Yu said she was going to visit her maternal grandparents today, while Chen Zhou was going to buy and assemble a computer first.

The reason they left one after the other was that Xia Yu needed to go back inside to tidy up first.

Chen Zhou went downstairs and had just arrived at the entrance of the residential area.

But Liang Wenbo caught him red-handed. "Chen Zhou, where are you going?"

Chen Zhou turned around and saw that besides Liang Wenbo, there was a bespectacled man of medium build next to him.

He has the classic look of a science and engineering genius.

Chen Zhou recalled that the person was none other than Liu Xing, his high school classmate and good friend.

Looking at Liu Xing's current "bookworm" appearance, Chen Zhou found it hard to imagine that this guy had become a playboy who partied every night after going to America in his previous life.

When Chen Zhou was driving a BMW, Liu Xing was already driving a luxury car!

It would be impossible for Chen Zhou not to feel envious at all; it's just that deep down, Chen Zhou is a man who would rather have nothing than something bad.

He is a pure love god who seeks a lifelong, monogamous relationship!

They have very discerning taste!

Otherwise, given his achievements and circumstances in his previous life, how could he have remained single since birth?

At this moment, Liang Wenbo and Liu Xing came up to them. Liu Xing patted Chen Zhou on the shoulder and exclaimed repeatedly, "Chen Zhou, you're awesome! I heard you slapped Yang Qian yesterday and made her cry?"

Chen Zhou jokingly replied, "Isn't it normal for her to cry? You'd feel numb if you stomped on it."

Liu Xing smiled and then reminded her, "Yang Qian usually hangs out with those thugs in the underworld. She definitely won't let it go after what you did to her yesterday. Be careful these days."

Liang Wenbo chimed in, "That's right! It would be best if the three of us walked home together after school!"

"That's loyal!" Chen Zhou was a little touched, then smiled and said easily, "Anyway, I really enjoyed that slap yesterday. Yang Qian had better not do anything stupid again. If she provokes me again, one slap won't be enough."

"As for those thugs she knows, like Brother Chao..." Chen Zhou chuckled dismissively, "Just a bunch of rabble. If they dare to come and ambush me, I'll chase after their leader and beat him to a pulp!"

Liu Xing suddenly realized, "This is what they call 'striking first to avoid a hundred blows'!"

After Liu Xing finished speaking, he paused, then asked in surprise, "No, Chen Zhou, I never thought you were this crazy before?"

Liang Wenbo said, "Chen Zhou has been crazy since he was a child! When he was in kindergarten, he would take a stool and chase after more than a dozen other children to beat them up."

Liu Xing exclaimed "Ah!" in disbelief.

Suddenly, Liang Wenbo remembered something and immediately added with a smile, "Oh right, when Chen Zhou was a kid, he would even bite dogs when he went crazy!"

"What?!?!"

Upon hearing Chen Zhou's legendary story, Liu Xing was stunned into silence.

Chen Zhou pursed his lips somewhat awkwardly, "A hero doesn't dwell on past glories. Besides, I've forgotten everything that happened when I was a kid. Do you remember?"

Liang Wenbo said, "Actually, I don't remember clearly either, I just remember there were two things."

After processing Chen Zhou's "dark history," Liu Xing asked, "By the way, Chen Zhou, I don't quite understand why you suddenly stopped liking Yang Qian?"

Liu Xing, ever the gossip, was corrected by Chen Zhou: "I only ever felt sorry for Yang Qian's family, I only pitied her, I never liked her!"

Chen Zhou was telling the truth. He had lived two lives, and since he was old enough to understand things, he had never truly fallen for a girl.

Liang Wenbo and the others thought that Chen Zhou liked Yang Qian, but that was a misunderstanding on Chen Zhou's part because he felt sorry for her.

If I absolutely had to count who I had a crush on, it would be Xia Yu, whom I had a crush on for two and a half years.

But... having a crush is something I can't be proud of!

"Huh?" Liu Xing asked skeptically. "You never liked Yang Qian? Then who did you like?"

Liang Wenbo chimed in from the side, "Chen Zhou said Yang Qian is too ugly, he doesn't like her."

Liu Xing asked, surprised and excited, "What are you talking about?!"

"Yang Qian is ugly? Are there any pretty girls in our school?"

"If we're talking about beauty, doesn't Xia Yu easily beat Yang Qian?" Chen Zhou said casually.

Liu Xing let out a soft "uh," then laughed without any attempt to hide his laughter, saying, "Chen Zhou, don't tell me you like Xia Yu?"

Chen Zhou asked, "Is that not allowed?"

Liang Wenbo analyzed, "If it's just liking someone, that's fine, but Chen Zhou, you absolutely must distinguish between reality and fantasy!"

Liu Xing also reminded his brother to face reality, saying, "Xia Yu is so beautiful and outstanding, the number of people who like her could stretch from Haitang Middle School to Erxianqiao. Besides, she's so aloof, you have no chance!"

Liang Wenbo chimed in, "In the past two and a half years, countless boys have tried to say a word to Xia Yu, but she hasn't paid attention to a single one of them."

Chen Zhou raised an eyebrow and said, "What if she likes me and is only enthusiastic towards me?"

Seeing Chen Zhou's serious demeanor and hearing his earnest words, Liang Wenbo and Liu Xing were taken aback at first, then completely broke down and burst into unrestrained laughter.

The teasing between brothers is often especially genuine.

Liu Xing laughed so hard he couldn't stand up straight. "Hahaha, Chen Zhou, you really dare to think that way! Xia Yu is only enthusiastic towards you? Hahaha!"

Liang Wenbo laughed so hard he almost choked. "Hahaha! Chen Zhou, I'm not trying to be mean, but everyone at school knows how aloof Xia Yu is! She's never warm to anyone! She's like a block of ice!"

Liang Wenbo then made a bet: "Let's put it this way, Chen Zhou, let's make a bet! If Xia Yu smiles at you even once, I'll call you 'Dad'!"

Liu Xing added, "That's right! If Xia Yu says even one word to you, I'll eat a pound of shit! 'Get lost' and the like don't count."

Liang Wenbo laughed uncontrollably, holding up a two: "I...I'll eat two jin!"

Just as Liang Wenbo and Liu Xing were laughing at Chen Zhou for his daydreaming, a clear, ethereal voice came from behind them.

"Chen Zhou, Chen Zhou."

Chen Zhou knew it was Xia Yu's voice as soon as he heard it. He turned around and looked at her, unable to suppress a smile.

Xia Yu was seen running towards Chen Zhou.

He put his hands in his pockets and glanced at Liang Wenbo and Liu Xing beside him.

When the two turned around and saw the owner of the voice, they both opened their mouths wide and their pupils dilated in shock.

They never imagined that the person who came would be Xia Yu, the school beauty of Haitang Middle School.

Moreover, Xia Yu even called out his brother's name?

She even called out twice!

She seems quite happy?

Wang Defa!!

Wasn't she supposed to be a cool and aloof goddess? We just made a bet with Chen Zhou, are you deliberately putting on an act for us?!