Rebirth 08: A Happy Life Begins in Elementary School

1920 Steakhouse is a fairly well-known and good place.

Located in the heart of the old town, the average cost of living is not low, but it doesn't qualify as high-end luxury, and it's not far from Li Zhao's home.

There are high-end steaks, excellent snacks, and plenty of fried foods that kids especially love.

Huang Keyun's choice of this location shows that she has considered things very carefully.

Li Zhao arrived five minutes early, and sure enough, Huang Keyun was already at her seat looking at the menu. As soon as she saw Li Zhao walk in, she immediately stood up and waved.

She has a naturally sweet appearance, and when she's not in a teacher's position, she doesn't have the inherent authority. Today, she's wearing a fresh yellow dress, making her look like a little girl.

Li Zhao smiled. If he changed his perspective, Huang Keyun was indeed a young girl.

To outsiders, it probably just looks like the older sister is treating her younger brother to a nice meal.

"Teacher Huang," Li Zhao greeted him and took a seat.

To say this restaurant is particularly stylish wouldn't be an exaggeration. It's actually similar to the restaurants Li Zhao frequented before he started working and hadn't yet made a lot of money. The decor shows care and attention to detail, but it doesn't offer much added value, with the average cost per person not exceeding three or four hundred yuan.

It's the kind of store that you can only watch enviously when it's not making money, but you won't be too interested in it once it becomes really rich.

However, even in 08, it still stood out from the crowd.

Perhaps Huang Keyun noticed the calmness in Li Zhao's eyes, and asked, "What's wrong? Don't you like this place?"

"Of course not, the teacher spent too much money."

"Don't be so polite." Huang Keyun handed over the menu. "There's plenty of food here. Take a look and see what you'd like."

"Has the teacher ordered yet?" Li Zhao asked.

"I've ordered. I'll have steak. If you don't like that, you can order something else. The pasta here is also very good."

Li Zhao flipped open the menu, and a whole host of familiar dishes came into view.

When Li Zhao first started working, he loved going to steakhouses with his classmates and colleagues. They enjoyed the bourgeois feeling and wanted their steaks to be cooked medium-rare but were afraid the restaurants wouldn't be good enough, so they always ordered medium-well.

Later, after earning more money, I realized that steak wasn't anything special, so I started buying beef and cooking it at home myself.

After earning more money, he basically lost interest in steak and preferred to slice some beef and stir-fry it.

Slow-baked is pretty good, but simply pan-frying with butter and rosemary is not interesting at all.

As a result of dealing with international clients, I was always forced to eat steak, ranging from several hundred to thousands of dollars per person. I've tried all sorts of different kinds of beef and cooking methods.

It's been so long since I've seen such a simple steak menu.

I really don't know what to do.

"I'll just have a sirloin set meal."

"Why don't you eat more?"

"That's fine."

"There are fried snacks over there, you can take some."

"I don't really like fried food."

Huang Keyun smiled but showed a helpless expression, "Li Zhao, Li Zhao, how come you are so different? You are completely different from the elementary school students I know."

"If it were the same, the teacher wouldn't have brought me here."

"Why don't you call me 'sister' today?"

Li Zhao was taken aback.

Huang Keyun smiled and said, "I'm only a dozen years older than you. In real life, I even know siblings who are fifteen years apart in age."

"Sister Huang..."

"Call her Sister Keyun!"

Li Zhao laughed. "Why?"

"In the classroom we are teacher and student, but today I'm inviting you to dinner because I want to spend time with you as a friend."

"Okay." Li Zhao nodded. "But Sister Yun treated me to dinner today, is it to find out about the first prize in the national competition?"

"That's one excuse, but the main reason is that I'm interested in you."

...That doesn't sound quite right, Teacher Keyun.

"For example?"

"I asked you this question as a friend," Huang Keyun said. "So..."

"Sister Ke Yun, the burden is too heavy."

"Ahem," Huang Keyun smoothed her hair, and Li Zhao then noticed that she was still wearing pearl earrings. "Can you tell me what you've been doing with the computer you borrowed from me all this time?"

"Huh? You really didn't watch it?"

"Of course not! I promised you."

"If you've ever turned on your computer, you know what I downloaded, right?"

"...I don't know what that is, I didn't look it up."

"Stock trading."

"Stock trading?!" Huang Keyun exclaimed in surprise. "How do you know how?"

"Just looking."

"that's all?"

"that's all."

At this moment, the waiter came over and said to Huang Keyun, "Hello, your T-bone steak and sirloin set meal have been ordered. How would you like it cooked?"

"Five points," Huang Keyun said. "As for him..."

"Hot dishes on top, cold dishes on the bottom?" Li Zhao asked.

The waiter immediately turned to him, "Hot plate, ceramic."

"A little more than medium-rare."

"So that's seven points?"

"A little more than medium-rare."

The waiter paused for a moment, then immediately nodded, "Okay, I'll talk to the kitchen."

Huang Keyun was a little surprised, "You've eaten this before?"

"right."

"Ah! I know!" Huang Keyun was inexplicably excited, pointing at Li Zhao, "I knew you had a unique quality about you that I couldn't describe before, but I just realized it—you've seen the world."

Wow, that's pretty accurate.

"It's so strange. You're only 12 years old, a sixth-grade elementary school student. As far as I know, your family isn't... very wealthy. Why do you seem so worldly-wise? Even something as exciting as winning a first prize in a national competition, you seem indifferent about."

Everyone has their own personality.

Huang Keyun paused for a moment, blinked, and said, "When I was in school, my mentor once told me that when I became a teacher, I would always encounter some exceptionally gifted children. Even though I would be a teacher then, I would not be able to understand geniuses. He advised me that when I encountered such children, I should just do what I was supposed to do. The world that geniuses possess is far broader than mine. I should feel honored to teach such students, rather than thinking that I am something special."

Li Zhao listened quietly to her.

"Back then, I really hated that idea," Huang Keyun said. "I thought, how amazing could an elementary or middle school student be? Even so-called geniuses need teachers to guide them, right? So I never understood what my mentor meant by those words. Until... I met you."

Li Zhao looked at her.

"I completely don't understand you. I can't imagine how you can be so amazing, and I don't know what you, a 'primary school student,' are thinking. The more interested I am in you, the more confused I become. It's even... making me a little unsure how to teach. You know everything, and I can't help but check your reactions in class. The words I use are too simple; I could have felt a sense of accomplishment teaching a primary school student, but you don't even need to listen."

"That's not right."

"Yes, that's not right. Teacher He was talking about you in the office the other day. The teachers were all saying that Xinbei No. 6 Elementary School hasn't had such a talented child in a long time. She even recited a line of poetry: 'Having seen the vast ocean, other waters are insignificant...'"

"Apart from Wushan, there are no other clouds."

"Yes, you really do understand. So, I finally understand what my mentor means. A genius like you is incredibly special. As a teacher, I should focus my attention on ordinary, normal children. That's my duty."

Li Zhao nodded.

"It's an honor to be your teacher, which has helped me achieve 'first place in the country' in my academic record," Huang Keyun said, her voice tinged with emotion. "I thought I could happily wait for you to graduate, wish you a bright future, and look forward to hearing your name in some exciting news. But..."

Huang Keyun kept fidgeting with her fingers, saying, "You are really, so different."