Rebirth: My Childhood Sweetheart Came into My Arms

Han Zhiruo took a deep breath, strode over, grabbed Jiang Nanqiao from the chair, and pulled her in front of him.

Jiang Nanqiao is about 163 cm tall. Standing in front of Han Zhiruo, who is 170 cm tall, she has no presence at all. In addition, she was so engrossed in watching the puppet show that she completely forgot the time. Now she was so nervous that she didn't even dare to lift her eyelids.

"We've been looking for you for so long, worried sick, and all you do is watch a puppet show here?" Han Zhiruo stared at Jiang Nanqiao, her chest heaving, her voice trembling uncontrollably.

She was relieved to see Jiang Nanqiao unharmed, but at the same time she was also very annoyed. After all, everyone had been worried sick about him since he went missing, but he was here leisurely, as if nothing had happened...

A mix of complex emotions led Han Zhiruo to do something she herself never imagined.

On the bustling street, the short-haired girl opened her arms and hugged the girl opposite her tightly. With each breath, she could smell the girl's scent.

I've forgotten how long it's been since I hugged someone like this.

Regardless of the consequences or the future, they were simply captivated by the warmth of each other's bodies...

Jiang Nanqiao was worried that Han Zhiruo would scold her harshly, but when she was suddenly hugged, she was completely dumbfounded.

"Ruoruo..."

Han Zhiruo didn't say anything, just silently held Jiang Nanqiao.

On the way here, she thought about many terrible things, even imagining herself killing the thugs who kidnapped Jiang Nanqiao. She, who was usually so rational, suddenly became completely out of her mind...

After a long while, Han Zhiruo released Jiang Nanqiao.

The puppet show ended, and the street performer carried the puppet on his back, bowed to the tourists, and turned to leave.

Jiang Nanqiao stood there, looking at Han Zhiruo's slightly red eyes and wind-blown hair, a strange feeling welling up inside her.

She had never seen Han Zhiruo so out of control...

Thinking about the care and concern Han Zhiruo had shown her during this time, which was more than friendship, Jiang Nanqiao suddenly had a very absurd idea.

Could it be that Ruoruo...

Just then, Han Zhiruo took out his phone and sent a voice message in the group, "Found it," before firmly holding Jiang Nanqiao's hand.

"Let's go, they're all waiting for you."

……

On a brightly lit night, two girls held hands and walked against the flow of people.

Jiang Nanqiao felt that Han Zhiruo was holding her hand very tightly, as if afraid that she would run away again. Feeling guilty, she took the initiative to speak: "Ruoruo, I'm sorry. I was originally planning to wait for you over there for a while and then take a taxi back to the hotel..."

"Later, the puppeteer came, and I only glanced at him twice. I never expected that while watching him, I would..."

"I don't know how I forgot the time. I'm so sorry for making you worry."

Han Zhiruo pursed her lips and remained silent.

She had already planned how to question Jiang Nanqiao and give her a good talking-to, but when Jiang Nanqiao carefully admitted her mistake, she softened.

It's like a naughty child making you unhappy, but because she's a child, you can't do anything about it.

"I'm sorry, don't be angry..." Jiang Nanqiao shook Han Zhiruo's hand, "Don't stay silent, I'm scared."

Upon hearing this, Han Zhiruo finally stopped and looked at her.

"The fact that A-Yu was targeted by bad guys back then made everyone very scared. This feeling was less about anger and more about the result of excessive tension."

"But anyway, I'm glad you're alright."

Jiang Nanqiao then grabbed Han Zhiruo's other hand.

"So, does that mean you forgive me?"

"Um……"

Knowing that Han Zhiruo had forgiven her, Jiang Nanqiao finally felt relieved. She smiled and said, "You know, Zhiruo, I've always considered you my best friend. If you were really angry with me, I wouldn't know what to do..."

Han Zhiruo paused for two seconds, then asked in a very soft voice, barely audible to the two of them, "Just friends?"

"Huh?" Jiang Nanqiao was stunned for a moment, thinking she had misheard.

"It's nothing..." Han Zhiruo patted Jiang Nanqiao's head. "Let's go, they must be getting impatient."

……

Back at the meeting point, the others couldn't help but question Jiang Nanqiao.

Jiang Nanqiao recounted what had happened, leaving He Ziyu both amused and exasperated.

"So you were helping a lost little girl find her mother, but you ended up getting lost yourself?"

"hold head high……"

"Qiaoqiao, you're a real talent."

Jiang Nanqiao lowered her head in shame and said, "I have no sense of direction, and I'm not very familiar with this area. I also didn't expect my phone to run out of battery at this crucial moment."

After a busy night, no one was in the mood to go shopping, so they took a taxi and returned to the villa, exhausted.

Tomorrow afternoon is the day to return home. Time flies, and He Ziyu is reluctant to leave. Most importantly, there are not many opportunities like this to hug and kiss Jiang Chengyu without caring about others.

They packed their luggage overnight and went to bed early.

Han Zhiruo woke up once in the middle of the night, went to the study, and quietly took out an exquisitely crafted compass, which he put into Jiang Nanqiao's backpack.

The following afternoon, the group, having completed their two-week trip, arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport and boarded a flight back home.

Having taken motion sickness medication in advance, He Ziyu slept soundly once again.

Jiang Chengyu used her tablet to watch a movie she had downloaded before going there.

The movie tells the story of a person who is reborn before the apocalypse and makes various efforts to prevent tragedy from happening. Near the end, his companion asks the protagonist, who is about to sacrifice himself, why he is fighting so hard. The protagonist replies, "Because this is the meaning of my life being reset..."

Jiang Chengyu put down the PAD and looked at He Ziyu, who was fast asleep beside him. He couldn't help but recall what He Ziyu had said after having a nightmare that day.

He said: My life has been reset, back to the present seven years ago.

Could it be that he, like the protagonist, traveled back from the future?

Thinking of this, Jiang Chengyu smiled helplessly.

What was he thinking, believing such anti-scientific things...?

Sure enough, no matter how outrageous what He Ziyu said was, he would try his best to believe it.

Wherever his gaze fell, He Ziyu, who was fast asleep, trembled slightly with his eyelashes, as if he had sensed something, and leaned closer to Jiang Chengyu's shoulder.

Jiang Chengyu took the opportunity to grab his hand, spread his fingers, and interlocked his fingers with his.

If He Ziyu really did go to the seven years later that he never reached, then he must have experienced something very bad to become so anxious and insecure.

Now, before things happen, while there's still time...

He must, like the protagonist in the movie, do his utmost and cherish it all the more.

……

Back in Moon City, He Ziyu quickly switched modes, activating the "travel is fun for a while, but doing homework is a nightmare" mode.

Fortunately, Jiang Chengyu was a true academic star. With his help, He Ziyu was very efficient and completed most of his winter vacation homework in just one week.

As the winter vacation drew to a close, the Spring Festival quietly arrived.

On Lunar New Year's Eve, He Ziyu gathered everyone at Xinrong Jiayuan to have a meal with "Huozhong". Afterwards, he and Jiang Chengyu went to a nearby market to buy some "Fu" characters and window decorations to add to the festive atmosphere.

"Brother Yu, what do you think of this couplet? It seems to be meant to bring peace and safety."

Jiang Chengyu: "Why not buy one that promotes academic success?"

He Ziyu shook his head decisively, "There's no need to pray to the gods for grades. I just need to work hard myself. The most important thing is that everyone is safe and sound. That's my biggest wish for the new year."

"Okay, I'll do as you say."

After shopping, the two took a taxi back to Bishuiwan.

On the way, Jiang Chengyu received a call from his mother. After exchanging a few words, he hung up hastily.

Thinking Shen Murou was telling him about her plans for the evening, He Ziyu asked with great interest, "Which restaurant did you book tonight? Is it that popular Chinese restaurant on the commercial street that has long queues since summer?"

Jiang Chengyu shook his head and said, "The New Year's Eve dinner is canceled."

He Ziyu: "Huh?"

Jiang Chengyu: "They had something come up and couldn't get away. If it's just me... there's no need to go there."

The "over there" that Jiang Chengyu mentioned refers to her grandparents' house.

Jiang Guosheng is the eldest brother in the family, and his younger brother Jiang Guotai is the second brother. Because he was pampered by his parents since childhood, he was somewhat spoiled.

Previously, Jiang Guotai's child failed to get into a key primary school, but Jiang Guosheng used his connections to get him in. Jiang Guotai's wife lost her job, and Jiang Guosheng also found her one. But even with all this help every few days, the couple's greed was still not satisfied.

Once, Jiang Guotai took a fancy to a project and insisted on investing in it. Jiang Guosheng immediately saw that there was a problem with the project and told him to think it over carefully before making a decision. But he insisted on not listening and said that Jiang Guosheng just couldn't stand to see his brother doing well. Jiang Guosheng was so angry that he threatened that if the project failed, he should never come to him.

As a result, the project failed.

Jiang Guotai was swindled out of all his money, so he turned to Jiang Guosheng to borrow money.

Jiang Guosheng ignored him, so he took the matter to the two elders and, relying on his favored status at home, kept smearing his own brother.

They felt that Jiang Guosheng was doing very well in Yuecheng, so he should take care of his brother more. The elders naturally thought so too. Over time, the relationship between the two sides became more and more strained, and they would only get together for the New Year's Eve dinner out of politeness.

Jiang Guosheng and Shen Murou couldn't attend this time, so Jiang Chengyu definitely couldn't go alone. After all, those relatives had disliked him since he was a child, and they would make sarcastic remarks about their own children who couldn't keep up with his grades, which always made him very uncomfortable.

"Then come to my house for Chinese New Year tonight!" He Ziyu said. "My mom's New Year's Eve dinner is better than any restaurant chef's. You can come over and help out."

Jiang Chengyu: "After I park, I'll go to the supermarket next door to buy some things."

He Ziyu: "What else should we buy?"

"I can't go to your house for the New Year empty-handed, and besides..." Jiang Chengyu grasped his hand, lowering his voice, "I'm the one who's going to steal you away, so if I don't perform well, why would they willingly hand you over to me?"