Rebirth 08: A Happy Life Begins in Elementary School

On their way home from school, He Shuyao and Chen Nian shared their holiday plans.

It's less of a plan and more of a prospect.

He Shuyao is going to the north to see the cultural relics that interest her and eat her favorite noodles; Chen Nian, on the other hand, plans to play games all day long first—because Li Zhao rejected him, and then spend the remaining two days playing games all day and studying hard the other day.

"Stop playing video games so much, let's go play ball on May 2nd."

"Alright! Speaking of which, Ah Zhao, haven't you gotten a bit stronger lately?"

That's normal. Li Zhao does bodyweight exercises at home every day, but the intensity hasn't been increased yet.

For bodies that are sedentary, the early effects are always visible to the naked eye.

"I've been doing push-ups and stuff."

"Damn," Chen Nian said with a lewd expression, "Want to see his pecs?"

Then, without saying a word, he poked Li Zhao.

"Hiss..." The soreness from the workout was still there, and Chen Nian's poke was incredibly satisfying.

"It actually has some merit, Shuyao, why don't you give it a try?"

He Shuyao froze on the spot.

Then he cast a resentful look at Chen Nian.

"Well, the weather is nice." Chen Nian said, then covered his mouth.

After taking a couple of steps in silence, he couldn't hold back any longer. "Ah Zhao, what do you mean by that Land Rover thing you mentioned?"

"There's a saying that mainly talks about human nature. A Land Rover is a luxury car. It means that you're afraid your good friend will suffer, but you also don't want to see your good friend driving a luxury car."

"Luxury car, a colloquialism? I thought you were the one who meant it." He Shuyao looked at Li Zhao, suppressing a laugh.

"Li Family Proverbs"

To everyone's surprise, after Li Zhao finished chatting with He Shuyao, he turned around and found Chen Nian frowning, looking unhappy.

"I understand not wanting my good friend to suffer, but why wouldn't I want to see my good friend driving a luxury car? Doesn't driving a luxury car mean you've made money and are living a good life?"

"...That's right, that was just a joke." Li Zhao's response wasn't very confident.

"Ah Zhao, I admit I studied hard because of you. But I just felt that since my deskmate is so amazing, of course I have to work hard too. In my eyes, the better you are, the happier I am. How many points I get is my business, but why would I be unhappy if you get high scores?"

As I said before, elementary school students are very smart.

Chen Nian is a sensitive child, not as carefree as he appears.

[A true and sincere friend. Happiness +2, Total 27]

"I was being petty," Li Zhao said directly, without explaining, "I shouldn't have said those things."

Chen Nian, however, was taken aback. "Oh, well, I didn't mean for you to apologize. The sentence itself is quite funny..."

He Shuyao couldn't help but laugh out loud again, and then concluded: "Everyone makes mistakes sometimes. Li Zhao was probably just joking around, but he did hurt you, so it's reasonable for him to apologize."

"Okay, I'll take it." Chen Nian immediately raised his head. "You wait, we'll play basketball the day after tomorrow. While you're feeling guilty, I'm going to beat you to a pulp."

A primary school student who oscillates between maturity and naivety...

It's quite fun.

No wonder many people's lifelong best friends are those they met in school. After starting work, Li Zhao wouldn't directly make that joke, and even if he did, he wouldn't directly express his displeasure. Even if he did express his displeasure, it would be difficult to get an apology, and even if he did apologize, it would be difficult to save face...

The three of them walked to the entrance of the pedestrian street, and Li Zhao took the initiative to speak:

"Shuyao, let's wait for the bus then. Has your dad arrived yet?"

"It's right here."

The black Volkswagen in front of the three people opened its door, and a tall, burly middle-aged man with thick eyebrows and big eyes stepped out of the driver's seat. He was wearing a white shirt and exuded an air of righteousness.

"Hello, Uncle!" Chen Nian greeted loudly, completely drowning out Li Zhao's voice.

"Dad, this is Li Zhao, the main character on the poster."

What an unexpected encounter!

He Wenping smiled and extended his hand to Li Zhao, "I've heard about this genius young man before."

Li Zhao naturally extended his hand, and the two shook hands rhythmically.

"Dad!" He Shuyao exclaimed anxiously, "Don't give me that crap, Li Zhao is my friend."

He Wenping was taken aback, then released his grip and laughed loudly, "Hey, I'm used to it at work, Li Zhao, come visit us with your parents sometime."

"No problem, thank you Uncle He."

"Since Shuyao and her mother have an early flight tomorrow morning, it's not convenient for us to chat much today. This is my business card. I appreciate your help with Shuyao's affairs..."

"Dad!" He Shuyao shouted loudly, "I'm not saying anything more! I knew I shouldn't have let you see him! Let's go!"

"My daughter has quite a temper," He Wenping said with a smile, smoothing his hair. "Alright, come visit sometime, Li Zhao, and this one too..."

"Chen Nian, Er Dong Chen Guo Da Nian".

"Okay, we'll head back now." He Wenping waved to them and drove away.

"...Chen Guoda Nian from Erdong..." Chen Guoda Nian's words echoed in Li Zhao's mind.

"What? He's the bureau chief!" Chen Nian was quite excited. "Ah Zhao, you're really influential now."

Do you even know what "face" means?

"Of course! The bureau chief is so polite to you. Isn't that what my dad meant by 'having face'?"

Anyone who reaches this position is a shrewd individual; they can put on a show of politeness even to a primary school student with ease.

"You're quite something, Ah Zhao," Chen Nian, a child eager to grow up, said, "You actually shook hands with Shu Yao's dad in a very professional manner."

In fact, Li Zhao was too skilled... I wonder if it would make Director He feel strange.

Anyway, Li Zhao's feelings were quite peculiar.

Past lives and present lives, fate and destiny...

However, He Shuyao's willful nature was clearly revealed in front of her father.

Li Zhao glanced at the business card in his hand; it was very simple—New Taipei City Land Resources Bureau, Director He Wenping, and a personal phone number.

Now we're really going to "get to know Director He".

However, given the matter of buying a storefront, Li Zhao doesn't plan to tell his parents yet. He'll talk to He Shuyao about it first.

Even after dinner, as his parents continued to whisper the same joyful things to Li Zhao that he was tired of hearing these past few days, one sentence inexplicably kept replaying in Li Zhao's mind.

"Shuyao is usually well taken care of by you."

In her previous life, Shuyao was not well taken care of.

In this life, the influence Li Zhao has exerted on He Shuyao since his rebirth cannot be described as "a butterfly flapping its wings"... it is like a roc spreading its wings.

Logically speaking, all the causes and effects of He Shuyao's past life should be null and void, right?

Including that damn drunk driving accident.

Li Zhao changed history completely, and there's no need to worry about that.

"Son, how about we go out for a big meal as a family tomorrow at noon?" Zhou Xiaoyun's words interrupted Li Zhao's thoughts.

It seems his parents need a celebration more than he does.

"Let's reschedule. I have an appointment for tomorrow at noon."

"Oh dear, what invitation could be more important than a family dinner? We've invited relatives tomorrow..."

Li Zhao's face immediately darkened.

"Mom, don't forget what the celebration is all about. It's your business if you want to feel superior in front of your relatives. For me, even if I just want to sleep in tomorrow, that's more important than this meal."

Zhou Xiaoyun was speechless and couldn't say anything for a long time.

Li Changlin quickly stepped in to smooth things over, "Son is right! Xiaoyun, you really should change the way you talk. Being number one in the country is my son's achievement, not yours or mine."

Li Zhao raised an eyebrow and glanced at Li Changlin.

My father is quite enlightened.

"So, who are you having dinner with tomorrow?"

"Huang Keyun, English teacher."

"We should go, and we should thank her properly," Li Changlin said.

Before Li Zhao could even decide whether to sullenly accept what she had just said, Zhou Xiaoyun had already spoken:

"You have the nerve to lecture me? My son has improved so much in just one winter break, how could it be the teacher's doing? Being number one in the city might be due to the teacher's teaching, but being number one in the country is definitely his own achievement. I think my son's grades are a real credit to his English teacher; she should be thanking her instead."

...Sometimes, Zhou Xiaoyun's awareness is quite high in special circumstances.