Classmate Li Zhuangsheng doesn’t want to be reborn

"Mengke, are you busy right now?" Xie Jiangqing walked into Hu Mengke's bedroom with a complicated look in her eyes.

"I'm not busy. What does Sister Jiang Qing need me for?" Hu Mengke said softly, holding Xuanxuan in her arms.

Xie Jiangqing sat by Hu Mengke's bedside, staring at her: "I've heard about what happened between you and Mengdie. You deliberately let Mengdie go to Qi Haoyu, deliberately let Mengdie see you and Li Zhuangsheng, and deliberately seduced Qi Haoyu... Now I want to know, what was your original plan?"

Hu Mengke lowered her eyes and remained silent for a long time: "I don't have any... plan. I was too presumptuous from the beginning. Sister Xiuyu knew from the start that I wouldn't succeed."

"That's not what I want to hear right now!" Xie Jiangqing interrupted, frowning, her voice gradually rising as she hissed, "I just want to ask you, what were you thinking back then!"

Hu Mengke shrank back, a bitter smile immediately appearing on her face: "At this point, is there any point?"

Upon hearing this, Xie Jiangqing remained silent for a moment before slowly saying, "Actually, I'm a little unwilling..."

"Are you unwilling to accept that your brother-in-law was taken away by Qin Luanyu?"

“It’s not just because of that,” Xie Jiangqing shook her head. “I actually really hate myself. I’ve never told anyone, but I’ve always been jealous of your sister. We’re best friends, and even though I’m not ugly, whenever we’re together, I’m always just a foil for her. Everyone’s eyes are drawn to her, and everyone unconsciously tries to please her… You probably can’t understand this feeling, since you and your sister are both the supporting flowers. Maybe it’s because of this over time that I’ve gradually developed a sense of giving up and escaping. Especially when I’m with your sister, if we both like the same thing, I’ll never compete with her for it, because I feel like your sister is a better match. When I go on blind dates, I show everyone pictures of your sister, and if they’re interested in her, I won’t contact them again. It’s not resentment, it’s more like giving up. Even though I know they have no connection with Hu Mengdie, I still subconsciously feel like I’m competing with Hu Mengdie for a man. But how can I compete with Hu Mengdie? Oh well.”

Xie Jiangqing slowly spoke her heartfelt words, which she had never mentioned to anyone for more than ten years, her face flushed with shame.

Hu Mengke was stunned. She knew about the relationship between Hu Mengdie and Xie Jiangqing. During the two years that Hu Mengdie was depressed, Xie Jiangqing was the only friend she would actively contact. She had also been inexplicably jealous of Xie Jiangqing, because in her eyes, Xie Jiangqing was more like Hu Mengdie's sister than herself.

Unexpectedly, Xie Jiangqing, who was as close as a sister to Hu Mengdie, had such thoughts!
"Do you understand how I feel now?" Xie Jiangqing sighed, her face flushed. "Sometimes I really hate Hu Mengdie. Who would willingly play a supporting role for their entire life? I'm a great beauty, okay? I'm quite popular with the opposite sex, whether I'm alone or with someone! This Hu Mengdie is really annoying. I wish she didn't exist!"

Hu Mengke bit her lip and remained silent. She had similar thoughts in her mind, but she couldn't say them at the moment.

Xie Jiangqing gave a self-deprecating smile again: "But that's exactly what I hate about myself. Even though I'm inwardly dying of jealousy towards Hu Mengdie, I still shamelessly become her best friend. I think to myself, 'Oh well, I've gotten used to it all these years, I'll get used to it.' I've gotten used to living in Hu Mengdie's shadow, used to 'submitting' to her. Even if she's with the boy I like, and they're showing off their love in front of me every day, I can only pretend not to care and then congratulate her against my will..."

"So, you really do like your brother-in-law," Hu Mengke said softly. She had sensed it long ago; a woman's intuition is usually very accurate.

"Yeah, we were deskmates in elementary school. I liked him back then, and I think he liked me a little too... Sigh, I'm not bragging, but I was pretty pretty when I was little, there's no reason he wouldn't like me. I told him I wanted to marry him, and he was so happy, trying to please me every day..." Xie Jiangqing's voice betrayed a hint of pride as she recalled the past, but she quickly regained her composure, waving her hand and coughing. "Sigh, it's all in the past anyway. I didn't mean to bring it up. How can childhood memories count? Even if he said he'd marry me when he grew up, it was just a child's joke, and I didn't take it seriously!"

Look at yourself in the mirror, okay? Look at that smug and sour look on your face. You're obviously super concerned! Hu Mengke really wanted to complain, but she felt it would be impolite to point it out at this moment, so she kept quiet.

"Where were we... Oh, it's about your sister showing off her relationship in front of me every day, do you know how I feel!" Xie Jiangqing said, gritting her teeth angrily, "I've put up with this for so long, I'm such a cuckold!"

"Um... don't get excited..."

"I'm not excited! I was their bridesmaid at their wedding! Hahaha!"

Xie Jiangqing grew angrier the more she thought about it, her features contorted slightly, and she even couldn't help but laugh out loud. Hu Mengke shrank back in fear, hugging Xuanxuan tightly, afraid that she would go crazy at any moment...

"So you understand now, right? I'm just a good-for-nothing!" Xie Jiangqing raised her hand and slammed it hard on the bed board, her face contorted in pain.

Hu Mengke's cheek twitched: "Doesn't your hand hurt?"

Xie Jiangqing gasped, "A little..."

"The headboard is made of solid wood, it's quite sturdy..."

"I know!"

Ouch! Ouch! Why am I so unlucky!

Xie Jiangqing's hands trembled, and it took her a long time to recover: "Where was I?"

Hu Mengke blinked: "Saying you're a good-for-nothing..."

"So I'm not reconciled. I don't want to be a loser anymore. I don't want to give up anymore. I don't want someone else to take him away from me!"

Xie Jiangqing gritted her teeth, unsure whether it was from anger or pain.

"Oh, oh..." Hu Mengke looked at Xie Jiangqing's hand, "Your hand looks a little swollen, are you really okay?"

"It's nothing!" Xie Jiangqing said fiercely, her eyes filled with tears. "If you don't want Li Zhuangsheng to be taken away by someone else, we need to unite now, understand?"

Hu Mengke stared blankly for a moment, then weakly said, "But even if we snatch my brother-in-law away, what does that have to do with you? Aren't you still the same as before?"

Xie Jiangqing was stunned. It seemed to make sense. Regardless of whether it worked out or not… Li Zhuangsheng and Hu Mengdie were husband and wife in name, and he and Hu Mengke were husband and wife in reality… She really felt like an outsider! Why did she have the illusion that her man had been stolen away?
Seeing Xie Jiangqing's silence, Hu Mengke also looked curious. Even if they really managed to get Li Zhuangsheng back, he would belong to her and her sister. What would Xie Jiangqing get? The three of them weren't even on the same side!

"Cough cough..." Xie Jiangqing coughed twice.

Hu Mengke tilted her head and looked at her expectantly.

"Cough cough cough..." Xie Jiangqing coughed three times.

Hu Mengke remained silent, waiting for the next part to continue.

"Um, it's that..." Xie Jiangqing stammered, her cheeks burning, "Well, it's about forming alliances... um, first, let's prevent Li Zhuangsheng from being kidnapped, and then, then maybe I'll have a chance... Li Zhuangsheng dislikes Hu Mengdie, right? With your conditions... I think my conditions are... pretty good..."

Hu Mengke understood now. She didn't quite understand the concept of alliances and counter-alliances, but she did know about the alliance between Sun Quan and Liu Bei, and how Sun Quan would betray Liu Bei afterward.

"I……"

Hu Mengke was at a loss for words. Should she thank Xie Jiangqing for her honesty? But how could she possibly respond to someone who had been so honest? If she had just lied to her, she could have pretended to have been fooled!
"I understand..." After hesitating for a long time, Hu Mengke finally nodded, a slight fighting spirit igniting in her heart. "So, Sister Jiang Qing, do you have a solution?"

"Not yet." Xie Jiangqing turned her face away.

Hu Mengke's newly ignited fighting spirit was instantly extinguished. Of course, how could I trust such a coward as Xie Jiangqing!

“But if the three of us work together, we’ll definitely find a way!” Xie Jiangqing noticed the doubt and disappointment in Hu Mengke’s eyes and quickly said.

"Just the three of us..." Hu Mengke muttered to herself, calculating in her mind. She definitely couldn't manage alone. And previous experience had proven that she and Hu Mengdie together might not be as capable as she was alone.

Hu Mengdie's effect might still be negative!
Even if Xie Jiangqing is added... what good is Xie Jiangqing, this spineless coward who can watch the man she likes marry her best friend and still remain calm and act as a bridesmaid?
Moreover, three losers together are still losers! No matter how many losers the Losers Alliance gathers, it's useless!
Xie Jiangqing said fiercely, "Three cobblers are as good as one Zhuge Liang! As long as we unite as one and pool our wisdom..."

"I still think it's a bit risky..."

Hu Mengke still lacked confidence, feeling that at this point, she might still be the strongest fighter.

If she worked hard and got lucky, she might even be able to become a mistress. But Hu Mengdie and Xie Jiangqing were like accomplices on the street; they wouldn't even get a chance to be pushed around.

If I hang out with those two, I'll end up smelling like a loser myself!
"You need to have confidence in yourself, okay?" Xie Jiangqing said, exasperated.
I have no confidence in you guys, okay?

“But you don’t have any ideas right now…” Hu Mengke said.

"You have to think of ideas slowly!" Xie Jiangqing bit her nails. "So what were you trying to do after all that trouble you went through?"

Hu Mengke hesitated for a long time, but after thinking about it, she realized that no matter what, the two of them were in the same boat, so she finally told him everything.

"...It seems Li Zhuangsheng is quite lucky with women!"

After hearing Hu Mengke's original plan, Xie Jiangqing smiled through gritted teeth, her tone inexplicably strange.

Suddenly, there was a slight noise at the door. The two of them were stunned for a moment. Xie Jiangqing rushed over with lightning speed, opened the door, and looked at Li Zhuangsheng.

"Y-you, hello..." Li Zhuangsheng blushed, "The toilet outside is occupied, I-I just want to use the toilet..."

"You overheard me talking!?" Xie Jiangqing was both ashamed and angry.

"No, I... I just heard a little bit when I needed to go to the bathroom..."

"What did you hear?" Xie Jiangqing was stunned.

"I didn't hear anything..." Li Zhuangsheng turned his face away, seemingly ashamed to meet Xie Jiangqing's gaze.

Xie Jiangqing's cheeks burned upon seeing this, and she instantly broke down: "You definitely heard something, right! Where did you start eavesdropping from!"

"No..." Li Zhuangsheng blushed and hurriedly waved his hands in denial, "The door wasn't closed properly, I didn't mean to!"

Xie Jiangqing was so anxious she was jumping up and down: "Tell me quickly, or I, I, I'll die right here in front of you!"

"I didn't actually hear much... I just started listening from 'Never mind, we've lived through so many years'..."

Xie Jiangqing was stunned for a long time before suddenly coming to her senses. Didn't this mean she had heard everything?

Almost instantly, Xie Jiangqing felt her heart rate soar to 180, her whole body flushed red, her clothes were soaked with sweat, and her mind was a complete mess.

"I was just talking nonsense, don't believe me! I was just talking nonsense, I was just spouting rubbish! You must have misheard me!" Xie Jiangqing burst into tears, grabbing Li Zhuangsheng and jumping and shouting.

"Oh, oh, oh..." Li Zhuangsheng nodded vigorously, "I need to go to the toilet!"

As soon as Xie Jiangqing let go, she saw Li Zhuangsheng turn around and run into the bathroom outside.

"Oh no, I'm doomed, I'm doomed!" Xie Jiangqing covered her face, wishing she could burst into tears.

"I don't think this is a bad thing, is it?" Hu Mengke's eyes were filled with resentment.

Okay, you confessed your feelings to him behind his back, and I had to reveal all my previous schemes behind his back. If you say it wasn't intentional, I won't believe you!

Xie Jiangqing's crying stopped abruptly.

Yeah, why would I be sad?! It might be embarrassing, but for guys, it's a plus! Look at Li Zhuangsheng's expression just now, he was clearly shy!

So, maybe I still have a chance of winning?
But as soon as she thought that, she was met with Hu Mengke's inexplicably resentful expression.

"Cough cough cough, I'm so sorry, I... I really didn't know he was eavesdropping..." Xie Jiangqing stammered.

"Hehe..." Hu Mengke chuckled dryly, "Sister Jiang Qing, I feel that you are quite scheming."

Xie Jiangqing scratched her head, both amused and exasperated: "Really, you believe me!"

Hu Mengke glanced at her sideways: "But I think you're always smiling."

Xie Jiangqing quickly covered her mouth, while Hu Mengke cursed inwardly. "As expected of the Sun-Liu alliance, they're ruthless when it comes to betraying their teammates!"
"No... Oh, Mengke, you have to believe me!"

"Jiang Qing and I are different. I'm just a withered flower, how can I compare to you, a virgin? Isn't it great now? Anyway, you're going to have it all to yourself, so go for it!"

Xie Jiangqing panicked: "No, I swear I really didn't mean it! I, I, I swear, even if I'm with him... you can still do what you originally planned, okay!"

"Really?" Hu Mengke asked.

"...Really." Xie Jiangqing forced a smile. "Let's work together. Li Zhuangsheng dislikes your sister, but he doesn't dislike me. The two of us together are definitely better than Qin Luanyu, right?"

Hu Mengke hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded.

"I don't believe you for a second. How could you be so generous? Now that you have the upper hand, you've kicked Hu Mengdie aside. Who knows if you won't kick me aside too later?" Hu Mengke outwardly agreed, but inwardly cursed.

However, Xie Jiangqing's appearance also gave her a glimmer of hope. Unlike Xie Jiangqing, she would seize any opportunity that came her way!

As for Xie Jiangqing… we’ll figure out how to get rid of Xie Jiangqing after we get rid of Qin Luanyu! My brother-in-law only needs me and Hu Mengdie by his side! (End of Chapter)