Rebirth 08: A Happy Life Begins in Elementary School

Chapter 108 I Want to Buy a Computer

"Ten years is too far," Li Zhao said.

Chen Nian didn't react much, but He Shuyao breathed a sigh of relief first.

"Don't take the 'people from the same world' analogy too seriously. It should actually be understood as class."

It was another word that none of the three of them understood.

Li Zhao laughed after he finished speaking.

Why bring up this word? It's something that even I, in my past life, didn't understand or felt powerless about. What's the point of telling them about it now?

"Well, anyway, I only say that when I'm trying to provoke Cai Chao. The interactions between people are very complex, and thinking about a ten-year span now is meaningless."

This was the first time Jiang Qi had heard Li Zhao "chatting," and she was immediately hooked.

"Ten years can change people and their relationships," Li Zhao said. "Elementary school level is hardly a good measure of future achievements, and achievements are not just about grades."

"But my achievements are uncertain, yours are certain," Chen Nian said.

Little Juice, how come you're so ripe now?

"Relationships aren't just about achievements," Li Zhao said helplessly.

"Oh, oh."

"In short, don't overthink it." Li Zhao patted Chen Nian on the shoulder. "Look at those billionaire tycoons, as long as they maintain the relationship, don't they also invite their childhood friends over for skewers and barbecue?"

"That's true—" Chen Nian immediately realized, "Ah Zhao, are you already expecting yourself to be worth at least tens of billions?"

"Give examples, use analogies."

"Tsk tsk tsk."

The conversation between the two made Jiang Qi laugh out loud.

"But if the gap is too big, even keeping in touch will be difficult, right?" He Shuyao said. "If in the future you are doing research or becoming a big boss, and I'm just an ordinary student doing an ordinary job like my mother—maybe you won't be interested in talking to me about anything, will you?"

Why say hurtful things when we were having a nice conversation?

But He Shuyao's words made such a good point that Li Zhao was momentarily dazed.

"Is our Ah Zhao that kind of person?" Chen Nian suddenly became enthusiastic, putting his arm around Li Zhao's shoulder. "Besides, Li Zhao is really going to be amazing in the future, and we can't fall behind!"

He Shuyao chuckled softly, "Yes, of course."

Jiang Qi, who was standing to the side, was inexplicably excited. "So this is what you guys talk about when you're together. That's great."

The class monitor misunderstood—if they always talk about this, wouldn't it make it seem like Li Zhao is having an affair?

"So, Li Zhao, are you sure you want to go to New Taipei First Senior High School?" Jiang Qi suddenly asked.

That's too formal. Adding "classmate" makes you sound like a loser or a supporting female character, class monitor.

"It's confirmed."

"Experimental class?"

"right."

"If I remember correctly, it's the top fifty, right?"

What are you trying to achieve with all this build-up?

"Yes, the top fifty are in the same class as the specially recruited students."

Jiang Qi immediately flashed a very confident smile, crossed her arms, and pointed a finger at Li Zhao with great flair: "I will definitely get into the top 50 at New Taipei No. 1 High School and continue to be your classmate!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Nian reacted the fastest, immediately looking at He Shuyao.

He Shuyao paused for a moment, but suppressed all her emotions and didn't seem to react much.

Li Zhao had only one thought:

You can't do it.

What does it mean to be in the top 50 at New Taipei First Senior High School? There are more than ten schools that rank higher than Sixth Elementary School, and each of them has its full quota of students in the top five of each grade.

What level is Jiang Qi? She's never even been in the top five of her class or the top ten of the grade. She's the kind of diligent but mediocre kind of excellent, so it's impossible for her to perform exceptionally well in a high-difficulty exam.

Her goal should be to get into New Taipei First Senior High School and strive to be among the top 400.

However, since he had this ambition, Li Zhao naturally couldn't possibly try to suppress it.

Wait a minute, this ambition—doesn't it seem to carry a different meaning?

When they reached the bus stop, Jiang Qi got on her mother's motorcycle, waved to the three of them, and smiled brightly.

As soon as the motorcycle started, her voice carried on the wind: "Mom, look, that handsome guy is Li Zhao—"

The atmosphere at the bus stop was a little awkward.

Chen Nian really wanted to tease Li Zhao, but He Shuyao was there, so he was a little scared.

He Shuyao wanted to say something, but with Chen Nian there, she felt a little embarrassed.

Li Zhao was seriously considering his future romantic prospects.

Admiration for strength is a major source of human goodwill.

With his special admission and potential first place in the entrance exam, he's sure to be a popular choice for the experimental class, not to mention his outstanding appearance. It's no surprise that he attracts a lot of girls.

In junior high school, during puberty, actual puppy love is still relatively rare, but there are quite a few self-proclaimed "love stories" that are touching and moving.

The bus arrived; it was going to Li Zhao's house.

He glanced at He Shuyao, who happened to be looking at him too.

As soon as He Shuyao met Li Zhao's gaze, she immediately turned her head away.

"I—I think so too."

"What?" Li Zhao asked.

"I also want to get into the top 50."

"come on."

He Shuyao had her back to Li Zhao, so Li Zhao didn't see her smile.

Chen Nian saw it.

After Li Zhao got into the car and left, Chen Nian silently took out his small notebook and wrote a few lines in "Li Zhao's Observation Diary".

In summary, when a girl tells you she wants to work hard to be in the same class as you, the best response to make her happy is—"Good luck!"

Thus I have seen and heard.

The old ways have become obsolete.

Even if Li Zhao simply answers "Oh," it would still be the correct answer. This question has a special solution, not a general one.

When Li Zhao returned home that evening, he smelled a familiar aroma of fried chicken wings as soon as he entered the house.

Sure enough, Zhou Xiaoyun had just fried a plate of chicken wings and was just one dish away from cooking dinner.

Parents, you've gone a bit too far.

What Li Zhao wanted wasn't to go from giving nothing to giving something without saying anything—but he wasn't going to say anything. Compared to his previous life, when he was terminally ill but unaware of it, he might have been aware of it but it was too deeply ingrained to be reversed. Although overcorrection was inappropriate, at least things had been changed.

If you change your approach, you can see if it's just a passing fad. If not, then you'll gradually return to an ideal state.

Actually, it's a good thing.

So Li Zhao still praised the chicken wings as delicious, but casually mentioned that "eating them consecutively might cause internal heat." Zhou Xiaoyun responded very positively, "Make something lighter tomorrow."

Her preference for bland food is basically equivalent to tasteless food, such as pork bone soup with no salt added and the oil skimmed off.

Since the parents are overcorrecting, it means it's the best time to make demands.

So after taking a shower, Li Zhao didn't go back to his room as usual, but instead went to the living room and had a cup of tea.

"Dad, let me ask you a question. Which do you think is more impressive: getting into New Taipei First Senior High School, or being chosen by the principal of New Taipei First Senior High School?"

Li Changlin laughed out loud, "Do you think your dad is an idiot? Of course he's more capable now. Out of nearly a thousand students who got into New Taipei No. 1 High School, only one was personally selected by the principal."

That doesn't necessarily mean there's only one.

"Do you still remember what you promised me you'd do if I got into New Taipei First Senior High School?"

Li Changlin's hand, which was holding the teacup, paused in mid-air before slowly lowering it back down.

Zhou Xiaoyun walked over with a puzzled look. "What are you two doing?"

"Do you remember when our son said he got into New Taipei First Senior High School—"

"Just buy him a computer," Zhou Xiaoyun blurted out.

So Li Changlin just stared at her.

"Oh—yes, my son has been accepted into New Taipei First Senior High School early, this—"

That's truly amazing.

Li Zhao shook his head inwardly.

Having made a promise, and now that Li Zhao has demonstrated a maturity and ability far beyond his years, at this point in time when he has reflected on his actions and even overcorrected—

The money has already been paid!

Computers are still viewed as a monstrous threat.

So much so that his inner turmoil was written all over his face.

"Um, am I not considered to have been admitted to New Taipei First Senior High School?" Li Zhao asked.

His tone was calm, even with a hint of a smile.

"Of course not, it's just that Mom and Dad are worried about you being so young—" Zhou Xiaoyun said, "What if you can't control yourself from playing games on the computer all day?"

"Where did this idea come from? That watching TV and playing computer games will ruin a person?" Li Zhao said. "People who would be ruined by this would still have things to distract them even without TV or computers."

"How can that be the same? Computer games and TV programs, if left unattended, can keep you watching all day. Watching like that every day will ruin your health."

Zhou Xiaoyun finally couldn't hold back.

That would be pointless.

"I'm not going to say that much. The red envelopes are still in my drawer, as we agreed before." Li Zhao put pressure on them directly. "I'm here to inform you that I'm planning to buy a computer, not to ask for your opinions, Mom and Dad."

"————" This time, Zhou Xiaoyun held back.

Because she noticed that Li Changlin wasn't talking, she thought, "Well, Li Changlin, you're hiding away and making me play the bad guy?"

"Of course you can buy it," Li Changlin said, trying to sound reasonable now that he couldn't avoid it any longer. "Tell Dad, why do you want to buy a computer?"

This is a reasonable request.

"The internet is the fastest and most accurate way to collect information," Li Zhao said earnestly. "If I just read books and did everything like you think, I'd never become a genius. People need to interact with the world in a timely manner."

"Not playing games?" Zhou Xiaoyun was taken aback.

"Gaming is fine for relaxation occasionally, but why wouldn't I just buy a game console if I only wanted to play games?"

These words startled Zhou Xiaoyun.

"Do you think I don't watch TV? Do you think I really know about this pedestrian street situation based solely on He Shuyao's few words? Don't you even consider why I understand store management?"

Zhou Xiaoyun's eyes widened: "What? You watched TV? That's impossible!"

"This comes from all the information I've accumulated over time. Watching the news isn't just about watching the news," Li Zhao said. "Mom and Dad, you still haven't changed your perception. I'm a genius, so you can't treat me like an ordinary kid."

Li Changlin felt as if he had figured out everything about how his son became a genius, and nodded.

Zhou Xiaoyun was still confused: "You watched TV? That's impossible! I check every time you come home, and I haven't found you watching anything since the new semester started!"

Because Li Zhao hadn't actually watched anything since the start of the new semester —

"That's not important. Anyway, I'll go buy a computer this weekend or next weekend."