Classmate Li Zhuangsheng doesn’t want to be reborn

"Burp... I'm full." Li Zhuangsheng rubbed his stomach. "I really can't eat anymore!"

Zhang Qixiang laughed heartily: "Who told you to force yourself to finish it?"

“We can pack the lamb chops to go; it would be a waste if we couldn’t finish all these dishes!” Li Zhuangsheng said.

"How much, boss?" Zhang Qixiang waved.

"328."

Zhang Qixiang scanned the QR code.

Li Zhuangsheng was slightly surprised: "So expensive? Let's split the cost!"

"Alright, don't be so polite with me!" Zhang Qixiang waved his hand. "Didn't you insist that I owe you more than ten yuan? Although there's no such thing, I'm a magnanimous person, so I'll just consider it as a debt. Consider this meal as interest for the past ten years!"

Zhang Qixiang paid the fare, and the two returned to the car.

"I'm so sorry you had to spend money. I'll treat you next time!"

Li Zhuangsheng held the box containing the lamb chops in his hand, looking a little embarrassed. A meal at school cost at most ten yuan, and his favorite sausage fried noodles were even cheaper.

"Okay, we'll talk about it later!" Zhang Qixiang finished his cigarette without a care, casually tossed the butt out of the car, and closed the window. "Anyway, you don't have anything else to do, let's go for a drive tonight."

"okay."

Before Li Zhuangsheng could finish speaking, Zhang Qixiang had already stepped on the gas without saying a word.

The BMW X5 sped through the night sky, aimlessly heading towards the suburbs and countryside. Li Zhuangsheng leaned against the car window, and Zhang Qixiang opened it for him. The rows of streetlights facing them cast flickering shadows on his face.

“Actually, your sister told me not to meddle in other people’s business,” Zhang Qixiang said.

"What?" Li Zhuangsheng looked up at him.

"It's your sister who told me not to get involved in your affairs. I've been thinking about your relationship with Hu Mengdie, and I still want to talk to you about it again."

Li Zhuangsheng listened silently, feeling somewhat uneasy. After thinking for a moment, he said to his old friend from ten years in the future, "Alright, go ahead and tell me."

Zhang Qixiang said slowly, "Do you know why I like hanging out with you?"

Li Zhuangsheng was taken aback. How would I know? He then shook his head.

"Because you are a very genuine person, true to yourself. I feel very relaxed when I'm with you, and I don't have to think about anything. Moreover, you are very innocent, and your interactions with me are without any ulterior motives, so it's very comfortable to be with you. Every time I come to see you, I think, 'I'm tired after a long day, I can finally have a good rest.'"

Li Zhuangsheng was filled with trepidation. He himself did not know that he was so good that he could satisfy Brother Fu so much.

“I think Hu Mengdie likes you for this reason. At least it’s a very important one,” Zhang Qixiang said.

Li Zhuangsheng paused for a moment, then scratched his head and chuckled, unsure how to answer. He was used to this; when faced with a situation where he didn't know how to respond, he would scratch his head and chuckle sheepishly.

“But even so!” Zhang Qixiang gradually raised his voice, “I still think you should be a little more mature. I felt really bad after hearing what you said that day… It was the first time in so many years that I’d seen you cry. But Zhuang Sheng, we’re adults now, and adults should have adult responsibilities!”

Li Zhuangsheng felt a chill run down his spine.

"Adult, responsibility." These two words seemed to strike his heart like a heavy hammer, leaving him feeling heavy-hearted, as if something was pressing down on him.

He certainly understood this profound truth, but this was the first time someone had said it to his face so directly.

Li Zhuangsheng was filled with fear and confusion. Sometimes, upon reflection, he felt like a monkey wearing a crown.

He was never ready before he was pushed out of school. He was already trying so hard to be an adult.

"What do you think I should do?" Li Zhuangsheng asked.

"What are you thinking right now?" Zhang Qixiang asked slowly.

Li Zhuangsheng sighed and stammered, "I'm not really sure, but... in this situation, since neither party has any emotional foundation, they'll definitely have to get a divorce first, right?"

"Is this your idea, or Hu Mengdie's idea?"

"...You probably already know that Hu Mengdie has someone she likes right now."

“But what if you regain your memories tomorrow?” Zhang Qixiang shook his head. “If you’re concerned about Hu Mengdie’s feelings, then I can help you persuade her!”

“No… because of this.” Li Zhuangsheng scratched his head.

“I know you still care about that video.” Zhang Qixiang took a deep breath. “You care about that past without you.”

Li Zhuangsheng remained silent, speechless for a moment.

Zhang Qixiang stopped the car and told Li Zhuangsheng to take a walk. The two got out of the car, and there was a vast reservoir next to them.

"Zhuang Sheng, I know you're just a high school student. But just consider this my seniority. Things rarely go as planned, you understand what I mean? It's impossible for everything in life to go your way, and you can't only think of yourself! So what if Hu Mengdie dated Qi Haoyu? I can see how good she is to you; she absolutely loves you! I understand your dilemma. You say being with her will be painful, but, you know, there's no such thing as lasting pain. I've been heartbroken too, I've suffered too, but this won't last long for you! The real pain is the regret after loss." "If you really divorce Hu Mengdie, you'll find it very difficult to find another woman as beautiful and loving as her, especially one who has never been in a relationship! You're not sixteen anymore. A mentally sound and well-behaved girl like you couldn't possibly have never been in a relationship! Besides, do you think you won't be in pain after the divorce? If Qi Haoyu from the past has caused you this much pain, what about the future? It'll be easy for Hu Mengdie to find a man after the divorce. You'll watch her remarry, find another man, and have children with him! You'll only be more miserable then!"

"You're running away, running away from the pain right now! But running away from this will only make you more miserable later! So, I don't agree with your naive, bookish attitude! I strongly oppose your divorce. If you don't divorce, your sadness will only be temporary; if you divorce, you'll regret it for a lifetime! Your aunt and uncle are getting old; they've worked so hard for you all these years, hoping you can get married and have children soon, and be happy. You shouldn't let them down! You're a husband, you're a son, you're a man! A man isn't meant to suffer; he's meant to shoulder his responsibilities and face life without running away! Didn't you tell me that after recognizing the truth of life, you should still love it? What is the truth of life? It's that it's absolutely imperfect. We can only accept its imperfections!"

Li Zhuangsheng listened to Zhang Qixiang's words in a daze, opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything.

The two remained silent for a long, long time. Zhang Qixiang then lit another cigarette.

"That day, after we broke up, I thought about it all night. If I had said this to you then, perhaps you wouldn't be like this now." (End of Chapter)