Classmate Li Zhuangsheng doesn’t want to be reborn

"Huh?" Xie Jiangqing seemed not to understand.

She could understand Hu Mengdie's expression, but wasn't the background a bit off?
Aren't you heartbroken and angry because you found out about your sister's affair with your ex-husband? What's the meaning of your sudden act of "wanting to understand Li Zhuangsheng"?
You almost made people think you were interested in Li Zhuangsheng!

"Li Zhuangsheng, what kind of person is he?" Hu Mengdie asked again, ignoring Xie Jiangqing's expression.

"What kind of person is he..." Xie Jiangqing scratched her head, suddenly unsure how to answer. "You two have spent so many days together, you should know him better than I do."

Hu Mengdie lowered her head: "Sometimes I'm just a fool, I can't even tell when someone's lying to me. I want to hear your opinion, whether he'll end up like Qi Haoyu..."

Why are you suddenly bringing up Qi Haoyu again? Xie Jiangqing was even more confused, but subconsciously shook her head: "No matter what, he and Qi Haoyu are definitely not the same kind of people. Qi Haoyu is glib and unserious. Li Zhuangsheng is rather dull... Although you sometimes describe him as quite romantic, I feel that Li Zhuangsheng is a more serious and earnest person."

“Is he really that proper…” Hu Mengdie nodded in agreement, but then she thought again, but what proper person would do that kind of thing, especially with his wife’s sister!

That kind of thing should be discussed after marriage! He's not exactly a respectable person either!

He's just more serious with me.

“Yes, he’s quite serious, you should be able to tell that…” Xie Jiangqing said, but seeing Hu Mengdie’s strange expression, she thought something was wrong. Hu Mengdie knew about Li Zhuangsheng and Hu Mengke’s affair, and saying that Li Zhuangsheng was serious seemed a bit ironic and unconvincing.

That damned Li Zhuangsheng, who told you to do nothing productive all day! I even feel guilty now!

"Ahem, actually, he's a pretty good person overall. He might make some small mistakes sometimes, but you can't blame him for everything!" Xie Jiangqing added.

Yes, it can't all be blamed on him. It takes two to tango; the real culprit is Hu Mengke! Hu Mengdie thought, biting her lip.

I have no idea what I've done to wrong her all these years! How could she retaliate against me in such a vicious way! This sister of mine is a monster!

"And then?" Hu Mengdie asked softly.

"Then what?"

"Besides being serious, what else is he...?"

Xie Jiangqing felt inexplicably irritated: "And then, well, I don't really know anymore! Anyway, he's a pretty good guy, a good man! He's just a little slow sometimes! But there's no need for you to care about that now, you're divorced!"

Hu Mengdie took another bite of the apple and said, "Actually, I also think he's pretty good."

Xie Jiangqing was taken aback: "What do you mean? You two can get your marriage certificate in two days, don't do anything silly now!"

"You advised me not to get a divorce and to accept him... I think you really meant well, and what you said made a lot of sense."

"what?"

Xie Jiangqing was stunned. "Wait, didn't you absolutely refuse to be with him back then? Why have you changed your mind now?"
And now Li Zhuangsheng is cheating on you with your sister, are you sure you can still accept this "scumbag"?
Li Zhuangsheng, did you give a false report? Are you sure Hu Mengdie is in a bad mood because your affair with Hu Mengke has been exposed?
"Actually, I... that's not what I meant... I just think he's a good person, and now that things are done, we're already married... it's best not to get a divorce if we can avoid it. My parents won't approve of it if we do, and they'll definitely be very angry if they find out..."

Xie Jiangqing tilted her head. "Don't you want to listen to what you're saying? Afraid your parents will be angry? When you insisted on being with Qi Haoyu, why weren't you afraid your parents would be angry then? When you went to the Civil Affairs Bureau to register your divorce last month, why weren't you afraid your parents would be angry then?"

Why are you doing this now, afraid of upsetting your parents? What happened to you?

"what do you mean?"

"I... I just think you're right, I should listen to you. Anyway, Li Zhuangsheng is a nice person, let's see how it goes. If it's a good match, there'll be no need to go through all that trouble..."

Hu Mengdie lowered her head, her eyes fixed on the apple whose bite had begun to oxidize and turn yellow.

This is where she feels at home, even more free and at ease than her own home... Li Zhuangsheng is also a very nice person, not only gentle but also good-tempered. She felt that she had been moved by him.

Moreover, Hu Mengke is truly infuriating. She's not my sister anymore; she's just a slut! Mengke was so cute as a child, why did she become such a monster when she grew up!

If I really get a divorce, wouldn't that play right into Hu Mengke's hands? When did Li Zhuangsheng become yours? We're not officially divorced yet; he's my husband! You want to take him from me? I'll never give him up!

"You, you..." Xie Jiangqing's heart skipped a beat as she looked at Hu Mengdie, who was already lost in her own world.

"Weren't you... unwilling before? Why are you thinking this way now?" Xie Jiangqing couldn't help but get anxious. "I think you should think it over. Since you've already made up your mind, don't change it so easily. Let me tell you, Mengdie, life should have a clear plan. Being fickle and changing your mind all the time is wrong!"

"Yes, I was wrong before. Actually, I haven't gone to work these past two days. Instead, I've been calmly thinking in my room. I've realized that my behavior was very immature. I didn't consider the consequences. I just rebelled recklessly without thinking about whether it was good or bad. I really realize that I was wrong... I've also been thinking about what you told me. My life is not just my own life, but also my future life. I can't irresponsibly ruin it like this!"

"Actually, you don't have to listen to everything I say..."

“You know, I’ve been running away from this all along. I thought it was just a nightmare, and one day I would wake up and find myself back in my high school classroom. But I know very well that this is not a dream. This is the future. I have amnesia, or rather, I’ve traveled through time. This is an unchangeable reality, and it’s real even if I don’t want to! What I need to do is accept my current identity and then live my life seriously!” Hu Mengdie said earnestly. “I am now Li Zhuangsheng’s wife. Didn’t you joke with me in high school about Zhuangsheng dreaming of a butterfly? And then we encountered this situation. Perhaps this is fate and destiny arranged by heaven.”

Xie Jiangqing stared blankly at Hu Mengdie, whose eyes were now filled with light, and fell silent for a moment. (End of Chapter)