Rebirth: My Childhood Sweetheart Came into My Arms

"Weren't we having lunch with Uncle Han and the others? Why are you calling A-Yu over?" Jiang Chengyu frowned, instinctively sensing that his mother had ulterior motives.

Shen Murou adopted a matter-of-fact attitude, "Ruoruo is transferring to No. 8 Middle School, so she'll be Ayu's classmate from now on. What's wrong with classmates getting to know each other better?"

Jiang Chengyu: "But..."

“Great!” He Ziyu interrupted Jiang Chengyu, “I’d also like to make some new friends.”

"Okay, you go back and pack your things first. We'll leave at ten o'clock, go to the mall to buy some things, and then go to the restaurant."

"Understood, Auntie."

Shen Murou nodded, turned around and walked out of the room.

As the footsteps faded into the distance, Jiang Chengyu spoke with some concern, "Ayu, you..."

"It's alright, Brother Yu." He Ziyu gently squeezed his palm. "Your aunt must have had her reasons for inviting me. If I refuse, it would make me seem guilty."

"But I'm afraid she might bring up topics about arranged marriages at the dinner party, and you'll feel uncomfortable if you hear it." Jiang Chengyu grasped He Ziyu's hand in return, her eyes filled with obvious tenderness.

The more you care about someone, the less you want to make them sad.

Even if the arranged marriage is in name only, the elders' wishful thinking will still bring him invisible pressure.

Jiang Chengyu neither wanted nor allowed such a thing to happen.

"Hey, I'm not as fragile as you think. This marriage is your parents' idea, not yours." He Ziyu smiled nonchalantly. "Besides, we already understand Han Zhiruo's thoughts. At times like these, it's best to be patient and let things settle down. I can also help lighten the awkward atmosphere for you two."

Hearing He Ziyu say this, Jiang Chengyu felt even more sorry for him.

"Just focus on eating. You don't need to do anything to liven up the atmosphere. If it gets awkward, that's their problem."

"Okay, okay, I'll do as you say. I'll go pack up first."

……

He Ziyu returned home, brushed his teeth, washed his face, and changed his clothes in one go. Just as he was getting ready to leave, he encountered Zhou Ying in the living room.

"Where are you going?"

"Let's go eat with Brother Yu!"

He Ziyu changed his shoes in the entryway, blew Zhou Ying a kiss, and turned to leave.

At 10:00 AM sharp, Shen Murou drove out of the residential area.

To avoid suspicion, He Ziyu deliberately sat in the back row.

While waiting at a red light, Shen Murou looked in the rearview mirror and asked him, "Ayu, what kind of gift do you think would be suitable for a girl like Ruoruo?"

He Ziyu moved his lips, but before he could speak, Jiang Chengyu asked, "Didn't you send them when we were in America? Why are you sending them again?"

Shen Murou rested her hands on the steering wheel and turned her head to look at him.

"In the US, it was our first meeting, and they gave each other gifts. This time, they came to Moon City and gave us a welcome gift. The nature of the gifts is different."

"..."

"Also, you're not allowed to interrupt when Mom is talking to others. Do I really need to teach you this most basic rule again?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Chengyu didn't bother to argue and continued to silently look at the scenery outside the window.

The atmosphere inside the carriage instantly became somewhat oppressive.

Shen Murou has this ability: she can turn relaxation into heaviness and freedom into constraint with just a few words. Jiang Chengyu seems to have gotten used to living in this high-pressure environment. He accepts all of Shen Murou's harsh criticisms without realizing it and becomes more and more listless.

After driving to a nearby shopping mall, the three headed to the jewelry section.

When giving gifts to girls, jewelry is always a safe bet. He Ziyu made a casual suggestion, and Shen Murou accepted it.

The shop window displayed a dazzling array of gold and silver products, making it hard to choose. After a long selection process that lasted for several tens of minutes, Shen Murou finally settled on an expensive bracelet.

"Ayu, what do you think of this?" Shen Murou held up the bracelet to her wrist. "Ruo Ruo has fair skin, this should look good on her, right?"

"It looks good," He Ziyu said. "Simple and elegant, it suits her style very well."

"That's it."

Shen Murou asked the sales assistant to pack the bracelet, and casually asked if they had a couple's version.

"We have men's styles too!" the sales assistant enthusiastically introduced. "This men's style also sells very well, and you can get a discount if you buy it together."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Chengyu quickly said, "I don't want to, don't buy it for me."

Shen Murou didn't even bother to ask for his opinion, and directly told the sales assistant, "Please wrap them up for me, I want both."

……

After buying the gifts, the three returned to the car.

The atmosphere was noticeably more oppressive than before.

Shen Murou tossed the bracelet to Jiang Chengyu and coldly uttered two words: "Put it on."

Jiang Chengyu: "Why?"

Shen Murou: "Just wear it when I tell you to. Why all the nonsense?"

The sudden smell of gunpowder in the carriage made He Ziyu uneasy.

Before Jiang Chengyu could retort, he quickly leaned forward, snatched the jewelry box from Jiang Chengyu's hand, and grabbed his wrist. "Come on, Brother Yu, it's inconvenient for you to wear it with one hand, let me help you."

He Ziyu opened the jewelry box, took out the bracelet, helped Jiang Chengyu put it on, and then gently squeezed his fingers, signaling him to hold back.

It's just a bracelet; wearing it won't hurt you. It's not worth arguing with Jiang's mother over something like this.

Jiang Chengyu looked at the gleaming bracelet on her wrist and felt very uncomfortable.

He didn't want He Ziyu to suffer, but reality forced him to suppress his emotions and watch He Ziyu smile in acquiescence.

But this guy still said it was okay...

How could it be okay?

"It's nice, it looks good. You can wear it from now on." After saying that, He Ziyu returned the jewelry box to him and went back to the back seat.

After driving for about half an hour, the car finally stopped in front of a restaurant.

The meeting between the two families was arranged in a traditional Chinese restaurant with a high-end and elegant ambiance. The waitresses wore hand-embroidered cheongsams, and the corridors were filled with antique paintings and calligraphy, creating a very stylish atmosphere.

Led by the waiter, the three arrived at the private room they had booked in advance.

Jiang Guosheng had already arrived and was sitting in his seat flipping through the menu. When he saw He Ziyu, he immediately showed a surprised expression.

"Ah Yu is here too?"

"I asked him to come," Shen Murou said. "The three children are all classmates, and I wanted them to get to know each other better."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Guosheng quickly gestured for He Ziyu to sit down, but didn't say anything more.

A short while later, Han Zhiruo and his family arrived.

Han Zhiruo wore a light-colored fitted dress today, with her long hair piled high on her back, dressed very ladylike, which was completely out of character for her.

It seems they were forced into it.

After the four elders exchanged pleasantries, Shen Murou introduced He Ziyu, and the seven of them sat down around the round table.

Jiang Chengyu sat with Han Zhiruo, while He Ziyu chose to sit next to Han Zhiruo, deliberately leaving a seat empty between them.

The elders showered the children with compliments, but none of the three children paid any attention. Han Zhiruo quietly moved closer to Jiang Chengyu and whispered, "Did Ayu tell you about my situation?"

"Yes." Jiang Chengyu nodded. "I believe you, and I'm willing to cooperate with you."

Upon hearing this, Han Zhiruo made an "OK" gesture under the table.

Soon, the waiter served the food.

At this kind of dinner party, the food was secondary; the main purpose was to connect and build relationships. During the meal, Han's parents asked Jiang Chengyu about the situation at No. 8 Middle School and even said something like, "From now on, Ruoruo is in your care," which sounded like a life-or-death farewell.

Han Zhiruo remained quite calm, focusing on eating her food throughout the meal, occasionally chatting with Jiang Chengyu and He Ziyu, making sure no one was neglected.

As the meal drew to a close, Shen Murou took out a gift she had prepared beforehand and said to Han Zhiruo, "Ruoruo, Chengyu specially picked out this bracelet for you. Why don't you try it on?"

He Ziyu: "..."

So this is how easy it is to lie through your teeth? He's really learned something new today!

Han Zhiruo smiled and thanked him, took the bracelet, and looked at Jiang Chengyu.

"Brother Yu, could you help me put it on?"

"OK."

As Jiang Chengyu helped Han Zhiruo put on her bracelet, her own bracelet was also revealed. The handsome man and beautiful woman sat together, wearing matching accessories, and looked like a perfect couple to anyone who saw them.

Shen Murou was very satisfied, and a smile appeared on her face. Little did she know that her two seemingly obedient and well-behaved children had already unknowingly sounded the horn of rebellion.

After a moment, Jiang Chengyu and Han Zhiruo exchanged a glance, then with a flick of their wrists, they knocked over the teacups on the table.

In an instant, tea spilled all over Han Zhiruo.

"I'm sorry..." Jiang Chengyu quickly got up and used a tissue to wipe Han Zhiruo's skirt.

Han Zhiruo frowned slightly and said in a voice loud enough for everyone in the private room to hear, "This is a new dress I bought, and I really like it."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Guosheng quickly reassured her, "It's alright, Ruoruo, we'll buy you another one exactly the same later."

"This dress is a limited edition, I doubt I can buy it anymore, and besides, I feel really uncomfortable being all wet right now."

After he finished speaking, the private room fell silent, and both sets of parents felt somewhat awkward.

Until Jiang Chengyu spoke again.

"Then I'll go with you to buy one now."

"Now?"

"Yes, there's a shopping mall right next door; it's within walking distance."

"Great! We've almost finished eating." Han Zhiruo decisively picked up her handbag. "Ayu, you join us too."

From getting their skirts wet to deciding to buy something on the spur of the moment, the two hit it off immediately, without consulting their elders at all.

Of course, there's not much to ask.

Both sets of parents are eager for the two children to have more opportunities to spend time together. The only thing they might be bothered about is that overly bright "third wheel," Ho Tzu-yu.

However, it was reasonable for He Ziyu to go along, since the three of them were classmates, and it wouldn't be right to leave him alone there.

The three of them successfully escaped the scene under the pretext of buying a dress.

Stepping out of the restaurant, Han Zhiruo looked up at the blue sky and let out a long sigh of relief. "Ah, finally out here. The air outside is so fresh."

He Ziyu: "Shall we go to the mall now? I have some money on me. Ruo Ruo, what brand of clothes do you like? I'll buy them for you."

Upon hearing this, Han Zhiruo chuckled, "Why buy a skirt? That little bit of tea will dry easily."

"That……"

"Come with me, I'll take you to an interesting place."