Rebirth 08: A Happy Life Begins in Elementary School

Chapter 156 Shoulders pressed together

Chen Nian was taken aback. "Huh?"

"Li Zhao was already number one before, so it can't be said that he has improved."

"————" Chen Nian looked into He Shuyao's eyes and, confirming that she was very serious, could only nod.

Li Zhao was inexplicably forced to show off.

On the bus home, Li Zhao and He Shuyao were going the same way, but Chen Nian wasn't, so they parted ways at the bus stop.

The bus was crowded, so Li Zhao and He Shuyao could only squeeze to stand near the back door.

"I don't think I've told you that before, have I?"

He Shuyao suddenly asked a question.

"Um?"

"What you told Chen Nian, that I only look at my own performance in the exam and not at others'?"

"Oh, that's just an excuse, to comfort Chen Nian and prevent him from getting upset," Li Zhao said.

"————" He Shuyao glanced at him, then turned to look at the bus door.

There were clearly two office workers standing there, but they could only see the scenery passing by outside through the gaps between their swaying bodies.

After a brief silence, Li Zhao realized he should ask something: "Isn't that right?"

"No," He Shuyao said softly.

"Is it a desire to win?" Li Zhao asked.

"Sort of. But the desire to win exists both for myself and for others."

"and you?"

"My target is you."

The words were spoken very softly, but they still made their way through the slightly noisy bus crowd and reached Li Zhao's ears clearly.

He suddenly realized that He Shuyao actually had a very strong sense of agency.

It wasn't the girl who had always been by his side in his memory, nor was it the girl he now analyzed in retrospect.

He Shuyao chose to apply to New Taipei Experimental School in her previous life not because she lacked confidence in her abilities, but because she wanted to be in the same school as Li Zhao.

Later, it wasn't that their lifestyles just happened to match Li Zhao's; rather, it was that they deliberately tried to match Li Zhao's lifestyles.

"Is it not allowed?" Seeing that Li Zhao didn't respond for a long time, He Shuyao glanced at him.

"Of course," Li Zhao said, "but—why?"

"You are the strongest, so of course I take you as my goal."

After she finished speaking, she pursed her lips.

According to behavioral psychology, this statement is not true.

"If I get fifth place and Zhaoxing gets first place, who will you look up to?"

"It's still you."

Why?

"Exams are not everything."

Li Zhao's heart suddenly started racing.

He was almost afraid to look at He Shuyao. "What do you mean?"

"Your knowledge, your thinking, your ideas—these things can't be shown in exams. I hope to catch up with you in these areas and keep pace with you."

Good grief, you're overthinking it.

Li Zhao thought "targeting you" meant "targeting you as a person" —

However, they seem to be about the same?

"I just don't want to fall too far behind you in any way," He Shuyao added, "because it would make me seem unequal when I'm standing next to you."

Li Zhao hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

He wanted to offer advice, but he knew in his heart that he shouldn't have.

Because what He Shuyao said is reality.

Because these things will ultimately manifest in the "circle".

If He Shuyao's grades continue to decline and she falls out of Experimental Class 1, then the interaction between the two will naturally decrease significantly.

Afterwards, they went to different high schools and universities, and it became even more difficult for them to have any contact with each other.

Li Zhao is now seen as a prodigy by others. If you can't keep up with him, you might soon find yourself speechless.

He Shuyao's high score is not only for how others see her, but also for her own confidence.

When surrounded by people who are far more outstanding than yourself, feelings of inferiority have nowhere to hide.

Since others' excellence is an objective fact, and they will most likely become even more outstanding, then the only solution is to improve oneself.

This is the source of He Shuyao's determination.

There was no need to explain everything clearly; Li Zhao had already understood completely.

"Well then, good luck."

"Yes, of course."

For a moment, neither Li Zhao nor He Shuyao knew what to say next.

So the two of them looked at the two swaying migrant workers in front of them.

They were both facing the car door, one tall and one short, and their heads were shaking at a remarkably similar frequency.

"Li Zhao," He Shuyao suddenly leaned closer and whispered, "Do you think we'll be like this in the future?"

"Just like this, every day on my way to and from get off work, I stand on the bus at the appointed time, not saying a word from beginning to end, just looking at the scenery outside the window."

"Isn't that different from us?"

He Shuyao was stunned for a moment, then frowned and glared at Li Zhao, "You're so good with your mouth."

Li Zhao thought to himself that He Shuyao was indeed a sensitive person.

Although the behavior of the two people in front of her was no different from that of the two men, she could already sense the withering feeling of lifelessness in the working class.

They even worry about "their future selves" for no apparent reason.

This is a problem that most people don't realize during their student years—work is very boring.

Having a job that you value, find interesting, and that provides adequate financial security is no easier than getting into the University of Washington.

When the bus arrived at the station, a few more people got on, making the already crowded space feel even more suffocating.

Li Zhao was forced to squeeze over to He Shuyao's side, and the two had some physical contact.

They were still wearing short sleeves, and when their arms touched, Li Zhao reacted more strongly than He Shuyao.

As if electrocuted, Li Zhao quickly tried to pull back, but was bounced back by the force of a fat man behind him, almost pushing He Shuyao against the corner of the railing.

What are you doing? Why are you so nervous?

"Li Zhao doesn't understand. Is it normal for boys and girls to have some physical contact in junior high school?"

Is it his Zhongdeng spirit causing trouble?

"Okay, come a little closer." He Shuyao tried her best to squeeze in a spot.

Li Zhao shifted his body, leaning against He Shuyao, shoulder to shoulder.

"There are too many people, it's really—" Li Zhao tried to explain.

"Of course I know," He Shuyao interrupted.

Suddenly, a middle-aged man's voice rang out from behind, "Little sister, please have a seat."

As he spoke, he stood up and offered He Shuyao a seat.

Li Zhao made way for them, and the people around him adjusted their posture to make room for him.

"No need, Uncle, please have a seat."

"Oh, I'll give it all to you, you can have it."

"No need, it's not convenient for me to go there."

Li Zhao glanced at the passage he had cleared, still in a daze, when He Shuyao suddenly pulled him back, "We're almost there, just stand here."

The middle-aged man glanced at He Shuyao, then at Li Zhao, nodded in sudden understanding, and slowly sat down. "Okay, okay, I'll sit by myself."

Then everyone returned to their original positions.

Li Zhao's shoulder pressed against He Shuyao's again.