Classmate Li Zhuangsheng doesn’t want to be reborn

Li Zhuangsheng, who had slipped back to his study from the restroom, was looking at the novel on his computer screen absentmindedly.

So Xie Jiangqing likes me... So she really does like me... But when did I say I wanted to marry her?

I remember it more clearly than she does. I never said I wanted to marry her... And, well, I didn't have much of a feeling for her when I was in elementary school... Li Zhuangsheng's mind was filled with random thoughts, although he did feel a strange flutter when he saw her spread her legs back then.

However, my kindness towards her was purely due to my youthful ignorance and being completely fooled!
So she likes me? I really didn't know. No wonder she kissed me when she was drunk before.

Qin Luanyu tapped Li Zhuangsheng's head: "Why are you spacing out?"

Li Zhuangsheng snapped out of his daze and muttered softly, "It's nothing...sigh."

He glanced at Qin Luanyu again and found it amusing.

Why do Hu Mengke and Xie Jiangqing both think I'll be snatched away by Qin Luanyu? Although Qin Luanyu is beautiful, we're from completely different worlds. It would be a huge leap for us to be friends!
However, he could understand Hu Mengke's unease, and it seemed he should find an opportunity to have a proper talk with her.

"Alright, you seem a bit distracted all of a sudden, why don't you take a break?" Qin Luanyu stretched. "I have a package arriving!"

What courier service?

"You'll know in a moment!"

Not long after, Qin Luanyu's phone rang. A little while later, Qin Luanyu got up, opened the door, and took the package.

"Get me a pair of scissors!" Qin Luanyu urged, holding the cardboard box.

When Li Zhuangsheng saw her open the package in front of him, his eyes lit up and he immediately exclaimed in amazement.

"Wow! What's this?!" Li Zhuangsheng couldn't help but scream!
"What is this?" Qin Luanyu tilted her head and smiled.

"Taro!"

Li Zhuangsheng stomped his feet excitedly!
The box contained an Ultraman Taro suit, and even an Ultraman crown.

"This was custom-made to your measurements, and it's not expensive..." Qin Luanyu said with a half-smile, "Why don't you try it on?"

"I want it!"

Li Zhuangsheng was so excited that his mouth was crooked from smiling!

With Qin Luanyu's help, Li Zhuangsheng put on the stunt suit. It's unclear when she learned his body measurements, but the suit fit him surprisingly well.

He put on the body part first, then the headgear, and couldn't wait to go to the bathroom to look in the mirror. Seeing Ultraman Taro reflected there, he admired himself for a long time!
"Wow, you're so handsome! Your physique is great too, it suits you perfectly!" Qin Luanyu clapped with a smile from the side.

"So handsome! So incredibly handsome!" Li Zhuangsheng was overwhelmed with excitement. He couldn't help but mimic the Strium ray in the mirror, completely captivated by the sight.

No way! This outfit is so cool, how can I not wear it out! Li Zhuangsheng felt an unprecedented surge of vanity, desperately hoping that others would see him in this state! Who could resist going out and showing off like this!

"Li Xiuyu, look!" Li Zhuangsheng turned on the lights from his glasses and the timer, then strode back to his study, beaming with pride, "Isn't it cool!"

Li Xiuyu smiled calmly: "Thank you, Taro. It's Friday today, you can wear it to the park to play with your friends."

Li Zhuangsheng nodded vigorously. How could he not wear it out? But he needed to practice his pose in front of the mirror first!

"Do you like it?" Qin Luanyu asked.

"I love it!" Li Zhuang nodded vigorously.

"You want it?" Qin Luanyu said with a smile.

"Huh?" Li Zhuangsheng was taken aback.

What do you mean? Didn't you already give it to me?
"I want it." Li Zhuangsheng nodded honestly.

Qin Luanyu coughed and urged, "Alright, three minutes are up. Ultraman should turn back into his human form now. Hurry up and take off the suit and give it back to me!"

Urged on by Qin Luanyu, Li Zhuangsheng reluctantly took off the Taro suit, his face showing lingering disappointment and a sense of loss. "So this was just a Taro trial card? Oh dear! I haven't had my fill yet!"

"Is it fun to become Taro?" Qin Luanyu whispered enticingly in Li Zhuangsheng's ear.

"Fun!"

Actually, this was originally intended to be a gift for you.

"That……"

"But not now!" Qin Luanyu's face hardened slightly. "I can only give this to you after you've written a sequel that satisfies me!"

Li Zhuangsheng wailed, "Then aren't you tempting me?!"

Qin Luanyu feigned generosity: "How about this, you can borrow it to play at home for three minutes every day!"

Li Zhuangsheng looked miserable, but since he couldn't wear the clothes out, the fun was instantly diminished by more than half.

Qin Luanyu was very satisfied with Li Zhuangsheng's performance and deliberately coaxed him like a child: "Then you should study writing novels well. You'll learn quickly. Actually, novels aren't that difficult. Once you get the basics down, even elementary school students can write them!"

"……All right!"

Which boy could resist the temptation of transforming into Ultraman? Li Zhuangsheng gritted his teeth and stamped his foot, determined to go all out! So he returned to his computer desk with a triumphant air.

“You even know he likes Taro.” Li Xiuyu said with a half-smile.

"I've heard him mention it," Qin Luanyu said with a smile. "It was originally meant to motivate him. Does Sister Xiuyu also watch Ultraman?"

“I saw him a little when he was little. I would often listen to him rambling on and on.” Li Xiuyu lowered his eyes. “Your gift really hit the nail on the head.”

Qin Luanyu smiled and looked at Li Zhuangsheng: "As long as he likes it."

"You really know him."

"We chat all the time!"

Li Xiuyu's expression was puzzling. She knew that Li Zhuangsheng and Village Chief Chu had a good relationship, but not to the point of knowing each other inside and out or being intimately close. However, Qin Luanyu's apparent understanding of Li Zhuangsheng far exceeded the scope of what netizens would expect.

Only girls in love remember every word a boy says.

Encouraged by Qin Luanyu, Li Zhuangsheng became even more dedicated to his novel. He not only listened attentively to Qin Luanyu's analysis of his novel, pointing out its usual satisfying moments and writing techniques, but also sought out some textual materials to study on his own.

As dusk fell, the distant twilight clouds transformed into a desolate starry sky.

"Dinner's ready..." Hu Mengke knocked on the door, her voice timid.

"Coming, coming!" Li Zhuangsheng stood up.

The dinner table was both lively and quiet tonight. Besides Li Zhuangsheng, Li Xiuyu, Qin Luanyu, and Hu Mengke, Xie Jiangqing and the long-absent Hu Mengdie were also present. Li Zhuangsheng glanced at Hu Mengdie, blinked, and then looked at Hu Mengke. He seemed puzzled as to why she had come out today—had Xie Jiangqing persuaded her to come out?

Hu Mengdie looked a bit thinner, and Li Zhuangsheng couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Despite the increased number of people, fewer people spoke. Li Xiuyu, needless to say, was by nature indifferent. Li Zhuangsheng overheard Xie Jiangqing and Hu Mengke's "little secret," and with each of the three preoccupied with their own thoughts, they had nothing to say for the moment.

Only Qin Luanyu showed interest in Hu Mengdie: "Sister Die, how are you feeling now? Are you feeling better?"

"Much better." Hu Mengdie bowed her head. "Thank you."

"You look so tired. Try to get out more these days, get some sunshine. Don't hesitate to ask me for help if you need anything," Qin Luanyu said with a smile. "I also brought you a gift this time. I'll give it to you after we finish eating!"

Hu Mengdie stopped talking, but during the meal, she would occasionally glance at Li Zhuangsheng. Their eyes would sometimes meet, and then they would both quickly look away.

Actually, Li Zhuangsheng didn't intentionally want to see her; he just remembered the set of bookmarks in his study.

Qin Luanyu sized up the group, as if they all had some secrets. She didn't press them for details, but simply chatted casually with Li Xiuyu for a couple of minutes.

After dinner, Qin Luanyu handed the prepared gift to Hu Mengdie, not allowing Hu Mengdie to refuse, and put it directly into the bedroom. Li Zhuangsheng and Hu Mengke were washing dishes in the kitchen. Hu Mengke looked melancholy, as if she had something difficult to say.

“…I’m sorry.” Hu Mengke bit her lip.

"Hmm?" Li Zhuangsheng tilted his head. "What's wrong?"

"You heard everything, didn't you... I'm a scheming, bad woman. I'm sorry."

"You mean that..." Li Zhuangsheng coughed twice, "Well, it's alright. I don't think you're that bad."

In Li Zhuangsheng's view, although Hu Mengke was doing it for him, ostensibly to "build his harem," she actually helped her sister, Hu Mengdie, see through Qi Haoyu's scumbag nature and avoid being deceived. She didn't truly hurt anyone. Okay, maybe she caused Hu Mengdie some emotional distress. But... she deserved it!

Hu Mengke sniffled, her voice trembling with tears, "Brother-in-law, don't be so gentle. I was too clever for my own good, and it backfired... Sigh!"

Li Zhuangsheng gave an awkward smile, "That's not the right word here. Actually, I know your intentions were good... It's not your fault, it's just... how should I put it, anyway, it's not your fault, you don't need to take it to heart..."

Everything Hu Mengke did was out of fear.

"Oh, right, I was just about to tell you that." Li Zhuangsheng looked back and, seeing that no one else was around, whispered, "Village Chief Chu and I are just friends. I won't be led astray by her, don't worry! Besides, why would she even look at me? We've known each other for many years. She knew I'd been having some troubles lately, so she came to visit me!"

Hu Mengke remained silent, neither confirming nor denying. Qin Luanyu had already made a blatant declaration of war; she definitely had ulterior motives towards Li Zhuangsheng.

Besides, can there be pure friendship between men and women? She certainly doesn't believe it.

Moreover, Hu Mengke also didn't believe that Li Zhuangsheng hadn't been captivated by Qin Luanyu's beauty these past few days.

She just didn't want to argue with Li Zhuangsheng. Although she was nominally allied with Xie Jiangqing, she didn't completely trust her. It was only a temporary cooperation due to the imminent threat of a major enemy.

Hu Mengke spoke softly again: "Brother-in-law, do you hate me?"

Li Zhuangsheng quickly shook his head: "No, I think your situation is understandable. I don't dislike you!"

"You don't even hate me, but you hate my sister... My sister must have done something really awful."

"Uh, no..."

Li Zhuangsheng subconsciously denied it, saying that Hu Mengdie had not done anything unforgivable, which was something he personally could not accept.

He felt that this was a problem with his own values, not with Hu Mengdie.

……

“Sister Xiuyu…” Hu Mengke found Li Xiuyu and spoke in a humble tone.

"You seem to be in a better mood. Have you figured something out?" Li Xiuyu asked casually.

Hu Mengke pursed her lips slightly; if she could, she didn't want to talk to Li Xiuyu.

She felt that Li Xiuyu had always looked down on her; she had nothing but her looks. Perhaps in his eyes, she didn't even have a brain. Even her supposedly successful schemes were already certain to fail, and he had been silently watching her make a fool of herself.

How pathetic, how despicable.

But now, if there's anyone who can truly help her, it's Li Xiuyu.

Xie Jiangqing is a spineless coward; she's still acting all coy and doesn't know how to talk to Li Zhuangsheng.

“Sister Xiuyu, you knew all along that your brother-in-law wouldn’t accept your sister, right…” Hu Mengke said.

"So you've come to confront me?" Li Xiuyu raised an eyebrow.

"No, no!" Hu Mengke quickly shook her head. "I, I just feel that you are indeed the person who understands my brother-in-law the most in this world."

Li Xiuyu curled the corners of his mouth and said lazily, "That's fine, after all, we've lived together for more than 20 years."

Hu Mengke bit her lip again: "What do you think of Qin Luanyu?"

Li Xiuyu laughed: "You want to ask me if there's any possibility between Li Zhuangsheng and Qin Luanyu, right?"

"Ok!"

"If I don't tell you, will you kneel down and beg me again?"

Hu Mengke clenched her fists until her knuckles turned white, and then she was about to kneel down to Li Xiuyu.

"I was just saying, so please don't kneel. If Li Zhuangsheng sees this, he'll think I'm bullying you and your widow." Li Xiuyu said calmly, "Qin Luanyu understands Li Zhuangsheng better than you do. They get along better than you, your sister, and even that good-for-nothing Xie Jiangqing. To Li Zhuangsheng, Qin Luanyu is like a confidante."

Hu Mengke looked slightly taken aback, unable to understand.

"Don't underestimate the power of a female confidante and think it's nothing special. In Li Zhuangsheng's heart, a female confidante might be purer than love. He's been a bit of a chuunibyou (a person with delusions of grandeur) his whole life. The phrase 'a beautiful woman adding fragrance to one's life' has a tremendous impact on him."

Hu Mengke's face turned pale, and her pupils dimmed: "Oh...oh...I understand..."

Li Xiuyu's lips curled up again, finding it amusing to tease Hu Mengke and watch her change her expression: "However, Li Zhuangsheng will not be with him. Even if Qin Luanyu confesses, it will be useless."

Hu Mengke was both surprised and delighted: "Really? Why?"

"Zhuangzi told a story about a giant tortoise in the state of Chu that died at the age of three thousand years. The King of Chu wrapped its body in silk and enshrined it in his temple, bestowing upon it the utmost honor. Finally, he asked, 'Does this divine tortoise wish to die in a temple with the highest honors, or does it wish to live in the mud wagging its tail?'"

Given Hu Mengke's level of education, all that could be seen in his eyes at that moment was a look of bewilderment.

“Li Zhuangsheng would rather live in the mud wagging his tail than be worshipped in a temple.” Li Xiuyu’s lips curled into a smile. “Li Zhuangsheng is an incurable case of adolescent delusions of grandeur. He is actually extremely arrogant. He will not flatter the powerful, much less let others think that he is. The more money Qin Luanyu throws around, the less likely he is to be with Qin Luanyu.” (End of this chapter)