Classmate Li Zhuangsheng doesn’t want to be reborn

Once Li Zhuangsheng calmed down, Li Xiuyu released him.

"When do you plan to get a divorce? You probably don't know, but there's a one-month cooling-off period for divorce these days..." Li Xiuyu said.

“I know, it’s the cooling-off period for divorce, a new regulation from a couple of years ago.” Li Zhuangsheng raised his hand.

Li Xiuyu laughed: "Looks like you secretly researched divorces a long time ago, didn't you?"

Li Zhuangsheng nodded. It felt good to have things out in the open. Although he felt ashamed for a moment, at least he didn't have to keep it bottled up inside. Now that the truth was out, he didn't feel so stifled anymore.

"However, divorce... if I bring it up, my dad will probably beat me to death, right?" Li Zhuangsheng sighed.

Even an adult would find it difficult to say the word "divorce" to their parents, let alone a high school student who feels like the sky is falling just because they failed a monthly exam.

Li Xiuyu encouraged, "What are you cowardly about? Just lie on the ground and throw a tantrum. At most, he'll beat you to death, but he can't really kill you, can he?"

Li Zhuangsheng pouted, annoyed. He dared not make such a decision on a personal matter lightly and thought he should consider it carefully.

“Actually, this is what I’m thinking,” Li Zhuangsheng coughed lightly, “I think I should get to know Hu Mengdie better these next few days, then have a proper talk with her, and then the two of us together should tell our families…”

“That’s a good idea,” Li Xiuyu nodded, “but I have to remind you of something.”

"what?"

"Even if you divorce Hu Mengdie in the future, you will never be able to be with Hu Mengke."

Li Zhuangsheng was taken aback.

“First of all, I won’t agree, and secondly, my parents won’t agree either,” Li Xiuyu said calmly. “I’ve already told you about Hu Mengke’s situation; she’s just a delinquent who didn’t even graduate from vocational school…”

"but……"

“I know what you want to say, but a prodigal son returning home won’t work here. Even if she turns over a new leaf, she still has two very real problems. First, she has a daughter with someone else. Second, the OB-GYN at the county hospital is my friend, and she said that Hu Mengke can no longer have children…” Seeing that Li Zhuangsheng was about to say something, Li Xiuyu stopped him, “Don’t speak yet, let me finish. Even if we don’t consider your parents’ approval, you still have to consider the most realistic possibility.”

"First, even if she likes you now, can you guarantee she won't have any lingering ties with the child's father in the future? After all, he's the father of her child, and the two of you had a relationship. She's so young and beautiful; if the child's father comes looking for you, where will you be? Second, she can't have children, which means you can't have your own child with her. Xuanxuan is destined not to be your child; she has her own biological father. Blood is thicker than water. If she acknowledges her biological father in the future, where will you be then? You know this is reality, not a two-dimensional world."

"So, you can't marry Hu Mengke. I absolutely won't agree, and Mom and Dad absolutely won't agree... I mean, absolutely! Unless we're all dead!"

Li Xiuyu calmly analyzed the situation for Li Zhuangsheng, then stared into Li Zhuangsheng's eyes and said, word by word.

“I…” Li Zhuangsheng was slightly startled. After a long while, he finally lowered his head. “I didn’t say that I would marry her in the future.”

"Of course, I'm just worried you might be confused, so I'm giving you a heads-up," Li Xiuyu said with a smile. "Unless you step over my dead body, I won't agree."

"Pah, pah, pah, don't be so serious!" Li Zhuangsheng lightly slapped Li Xiuyu.

He hadn't really thought about his relationship with Hu Mengke, but he was stunned by what Li Xiuyu said and a little intimidated by her seriousness.

Li Xiuyu said with a grin, "Of course, if you two are just dating and sleeping together, it doesn't matter, as long as you don't get married!"

"A relationship that isn't intended for marriage is just playing around!" Li Zhuangsheng declared righteously.

“I haven’t heard that phrase in years,” Li Xiuyu shrugged. “The last time I heard it was back in high school.”

She knew that Li Zhuangsheng wasn't thinking that much at the moment. It was really a bit much to ask a high school student to plan his future and sort out his complicated emotional life all at once.

However, what happened with Hu Mengke has already occurred, and Li Zhuangsheng will undoubtedly be burdened with guilt amidst his inner turmoil. Therefore, her serious explanation to Li Zhuangsheng is an attempt to shoulder that impending guilt for him.

You are not responsible for Hu Mengke because we disagree. It's not that you're unwilling, but that we won't allow it! So it's not your fault; blame me.

"What are you talking about... Is it that open now?" Li Zhuangsheng muttered.

"That's right, so if you really like Hu Mengke, just date her. If you want to get married later, I'll find you a clean girl..."

"Forget it, what innocent girl is there... Hmph, I think I've lost my mind too. I clearly swore that I would only date girls as beautiful as those in anime! He actually married someone in real life, he actually betrayed the world of anime! Hmph, it seems that God couldn't stand it anymore, so He sent me to help him find his original intentions!" Li Zhuangsheng
Li Xiuyu could tell that the other party was trying to save face for him, but he didn't call them out on it.

Li Zhuangsheng grumbled, "Anyway, I'm not getting married again, so Li Xiuyu, you shouldn't get married either!"

"I don't believe you!" Li Xiuyu glanced at him sideways and couldn't help but tap Li Zhuangsheng on the forehead.

Li Zhuangsheng's mouth is a lying devil. If I still believe your bullshit, I'm a pig!

“I really have no interest in marriage.” Li Zhuangsheng got up and lay on the small bed, sighing deeply. “Alas… I know that no normal person could like me.”

"Don't wallow in self-pity just because you've experienced a little setback..."

"Hu Mengdie and I got together through a blind date two years ago, right? I'd never been in a relationship before, right?" Li Zhuangsheng stared at the ceiling, his tone sour. "Because nobody wanted me, right? You were the school heartthrob, and I was just a weed..."

“You can’t say that. Actually…” Seeing Li Zhuangsheng’s heart break for a moment, Li Xiuyu blinked and quickly comforted him, “Actually, you’re quite popular with women. As far as I know, at least two girls in your class liked you when you were in high school.”

Li Zhuangsheng glanced at her: "Liar."

Li Xiuyu glared at him: "Why would I lie to you? If I were to lie to you, I'd be your slave for life!"

Li Zhuangsheng suddenly sat up, his eyes sparkling: "I knew it! Hey, who's the girl who likes me?"

Li Xiuyu turned her face away: "I'm not telling you!"

"Tell me, tell me!" Li Zhuangsheng grabbed Li Xiuyu's arm and shook it. "Anyway, so many years have passed!"

"I will not say."

You're lying to me, aren't you?

"I'm not lying to you, but I won't tell you!"

"Is it Du Lijuan? Yang Qiuyue? Qi Yu? Or who else?"

"Oh, don't ask, I'm not going to tell you!"

"Who is it? Is it a man or a woman? Is she pretty?" Li Zhuangsheng was incredibly curious!
"Hehe, they're two ugly freaks!" Li Xiuyu lay on the bed and turned his face to the side.

Li Zhuangsheng was taken aback at first, then disbelievingly continued to shake Li Xiuyu, saying, "You're lying! Someone with such good taste must be a beautiful and kind-hearted woman!"

Li Xiuyu, annoyed, thought to herself that she wasn't telling her for her own good. To avoid Li Zhuangsheng's harassment, she turned around on the bed: "Guess whatever you want, I'm not going to... Ouch!" Li Xiuyu cried out, and the next moment, she angrily picked up a box, "What is this thing that's poking me!"

“This…” Li Zhuangsheng paused for a moment, then remembered that on the day he lost his memory, he woke up with this thing in his hand. “It was a gift from a classmate of mine.”

Li Zhuangsheng has been checking his WeChat a lot these past few days and has roughly identified his target.

"What's inside?" Li Xiuyu opened the box, took out the gold lock, and a look of shock appeared in his eyes. "Oh my—this is... gold?"

"No way, how could it be gold? Gold would be so expensive!" Li Zhuangsheng said dismissively. "It's probably brass or something. I think it was a wedding gift from an old classmate. Sigh..."

Speaking of "marriage," Li Zhuangsheng couldn't help but sigh again. Reality is truly a mess.

Li Xiuyu examined the gold lock and saw that it was engraved with four characters: "Eternal Union".

Her expression hardened, and she glanced at Li Zhuangsheng.

"What old classmate? Male or female?" Li Xiuyu immediately put the gold lock back into the box, asking the question knowing the answer already.

She already guessed who it was, especially since she had seen Li Zhuangsheng's surveillance footage at the police station. And with her sharp eyesight, she certainly wouldn't be like Li Zhuangsheng in high school, unable to distinguish between gold and brass.

"What?" Li Zhuangsheng glanced sideways and snorted slightly, "A woman, and a stunning beauty at that!"

"A great beauty?" Li Xiuyu scoffed. "Can she be as beautiful as me?"

"Pshaw, she's way prettier than you! You know she's the prettiest girl in our class? We were best buddies in high school!" Li Zhuangsheng boasted to Li Xiuyu.

However, their relationship is probably just so-so now. They only added each other on WeChat recently and haven't chatted much. Li Zhuangsheng called her many times but she didn't answer and hasn't replied since. She probably just couldn't be bothered to call back.

Unfortunately, we were quite close in high school... She would often talk to me with a smile, and then suddenly slam her big breasts onto my desk, making it impossible for me to look away.

Well, although their personalities are completely different, Li Zhuangsheng always thinks of Icarus through her. That angel who descended from heaven.

"Tch, you're just bragging." Li Xiuyu put away the box. "I'm taking this!"

"Why do you want this? Someone gave it to me!" Li Zhuangsheng said somewhat reluctantly.

Their relationship might have faded after graduation, but in Li Zhuangsheng's current memory, she was still that pretty classmate who always smiled at him. In fact, Li Zhuangsheng occasionally fantasized about her—could such a popular, energetic, busty beauty like him? Otherwise, why would she smile and chat with a gloomy, reclusive guy like him?
But Li Zhuangsheng thought, reality isn't anime, and she was only talking to him because she had a good personality. A successful person can be friends with anyone. What are you fantasizing about? The biggest illusion of life is "she likes me"... Sigh, it's been several days since he last saw her, and Li Zhuangsheng really does miss her. Oh, to be precise, it's actually been ten years.

"Isn't it engraved with 'Eternal Union'? Wouldn't you be heartbroken if you saw it?" Li Xiuyu laughed. "Besides, I'm planning to have it professionally tested. Maybe it's gold. If it is gold, we'll be rich! Do you know how expensive gold is these days? This is at least a million!"

"You money-grubber, how could it be gold!" Li Zhuangsheng laughed and scolded, feeling that his sister was really obsessed with money.

You're such a grown-up, can't you be a little more mature? But if she wants to take it, let her take it.

Li Zhuangsheng looked at Li Xiuyu, who had stuffed his down jacket pockets bulging, and found it amusing.

I wonder how she's been all these years? Li Zhuangsheng wondered.

However, the surveillance footage showed that she arrived in an Audi, so she must have been doing quite well.

She's so beautiful, has a great figure, and a wonderful personality... she must have found a good husband.

"Alright, I'm going to take a shower. I haven't showered at home in days, and I'll change my clothes while I'm at it. You stay in the study for now and see if you can remember anything. Then think about how to tell Mom and Dad about Hu Mengdie."

Li Xiuyu got up and left the study.

Li Zhuangsheng sat up in bed and looked around the study that belonged to him but felt strange. There were books, a computer, a charger, a cell phone… it was practically his dream room!

Li Zhuangsheng could hardly help but laugh out loud at this, like a child waking up to find himself in a candy house and being told that the house belonged to him alone!

It was so incredibly satisfying!

Li Zhuangsheng looked at the books neatly arranged on the bookshelf with satisfaction, picked one up at random, flipped through it, and put it back.

"Why is 'Dream of the Red Chamber' placed at the very top?" Li Zhuangsheng suddenly asked in surprise.

The books in the bookshelves and cabinets are arranged in a very orderly and systematic way, which shows that they have been carefully placed. For example, the collection of essays by various schools of thought and various poetry collections are placed together, and psychology and sociology are also placed side by side... But "Dream of the Red Chamber" is not placed with "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", "Journey to the West" and "Flowers in the Mirror", nor with "Jin Ping Mei" and "Gu Wang Yan".

It was placed on the bookshelf next to the computer desk, within easy reach. Next to it were poetry collections such as "Ancient Poetry Source" and "New Songs from the Jade Terrace".

"Why is this 'Dream of the Red Chamber' put together with the poetry collection..." Li Zhuangsheng muttered as he took it out, wondering if it had been put in the wrong place.

"Ouch..." Just as he pulled out "Dream of the Red Chamber", a small seashell suddenly fell off the bookshelf.

Li Zhuangsheng was quick-witted and clumsy, but he managed to catch it.

Who put this little seashell in front of Dream of the Red Chamber? And what are all those random things on the bookshelf? It's so in the way when I need to get the book!

Li Zhuangsheng held the seashell and sighed inwardly. He had intended to put the small seashell aside casually, but then thought that he should not "disrupt the scene" and put it back in its original place.

"Hmm, the commentary by Zhiyan Zhai... is it real or fake?" Li Zhuangsheng muttered to himself as he looked at the words on the cover of "Dream of the Red Chamber" and casually flipped through it.

But before I knew it, a bookmark had fallen.

"A few notes of the wind flute sounded at dusk as we departed from the pavilion; you headed towards the Xiang River, while I headed towards Qin."

Li Zhuangsheng bent down to pick up the bookmark and saw a line of handwritten poetry on the back. The writing was slender and neat, and the gender was hard to discern.

This handwriting looks familiar, like I've seen it somewhere before, but I can't remember who wrote it... It probably wasn't someone I knew very well.

Li Zhuangsheng thought to himself, "It's probably one of the classmates I'm not very familiar with."

He put the bookmark back in its place, then glanced at it again, which corresponded to Chapter 76 of "Dream of the Red Chamber": "In the Convex Jade Hall, the sound of the flute evokes a sense of desolation; in the Concave Crystal Hall, the couplets express their sorrow and loneliness."

[“You don’t need to ask, I already have it, listen to this.” Then he replied, “The cold moon buries the flower’s soul.”]

Li Zhuangsheng paused slightly, then closed the book.

Li Zhuangsheng felt inexplicably sad. He suddenly realized that this copy of "Dream of the Red Chamber" was quite new and probably rarely read.

For some reason, he vaguely recalled an ancient poem:
Two days ago, amidst the wind and snow, my old friend departed. (End of Chapter)