Classmate Li Zhuangsheng doesn’t want to be reborn

The afternoon sun was warm and comforting. Zhu Zhixue lay on the table, occasionally sniffing her clothes and then secretly smiling.

These are clothes that Li Zhuangsheng washed for her. They're very clean and smell nice... This reminds her of the time when Li Zhuangsheng picked up a pen covered in footprints and dust from the ground, wiped it clean, and returned it to her.

No one can compare to her feelings for Li Zhuangsheng, so Hu Mengdie will definitely not succeed!

"Zhu Zhixue".

The voice she had been longing for reached her ears. Zhu Zhixue looked up and smiled: "What's wrong? Why did you come in so early today? The school must have just opened."

"Did you hit Hu Mengdie?" Li Zhuangsheng lowered his voice, but could not hide his doubt and anger.

Zhu Zhixue was taken aback. She studied Li Zhuangsheng's expression, and the smile on her lips gradually cooled down. She sneered, "Oh, she complained to you, didn't she?"

Seeing this, Li Zhuangsheng knew that Hu Mengdie was right. In fact, he had guessed it long ago, but he had always hoped it wasn't her.

"Why did you hit Hu Mengdie?" Li Zhuangsheng asked, frowning.

"No reason, I just didn't like her, so I hit her." Zhu Zhixue bit her lip and gave another cold laugh. "You feel sorry for her?"

Li Zhuang retorted angrily, "No... you shouldn't have hit me!"

Zhu Zhixue gritted her teeth and hissed, "I hit him, so what? What does it matter if it was right or wrong?"

"What conflict did you have that you had to fight? Hu Mengdie didn't offend you in any way, did she? How could you slap her face like that?"

"You're here to interrogate me, aren't you? You two are having an affair, so you're here to stand up for her?"

"No... I just feel that you did something wrong, and you should apologize to her!"

"You actually yelled at me because of her? She's more important to you than me, isn't she?!"

"The problem is that you made a mistake. I just saw it at noon, and her face was all swollen... You should apologize to her and ask for her forgiveness."

"Haha, hahaha! Don't even think about it! So what if I hit you? Go ahead and call the police to arrest me! Who do you think you are to tell me what to do? Who are you to me?!"

Zhu Zhixue was furious, feeling both aggrieved and angry. Hu Mengdie had clearly provoked her first, yet Li Zhuangsheng was now condemning her and even demanding that she apologize to the other woman!

The more she spoke, the angrier and more heartbroken she became. She felt like the innocent heroine who had been framed by a scheming female supporting character. It was clearly not her fault, yet she was betrayed by a despicable person, and her beloved would rather believe others than trust her!

Didn't Hu Mengdie hit me? I'm in pain all over my body!
Li Zhuangsheng stared blankly at Zhu Zhixue, his face burning. He suddenly felt that she was such a stranger. How could things have turned out like this? Zhu Zhixue was clearly in the wrong first, yet she was so self-righteous in turning the tables and even saying such hurtful things.

Perhaps he overestimated himself, thinking that since the two were at least friends, Zhu Zhixue would listen to him and apologize to Hu Mengdie.

……

"Who hit you? Was it Zhu Zhixue? I heard Zhu Zhixue called you out yesterday..." Xie Jiangqing said indignantly on the way back to campus. "Was it her? I'll find someone to help you hit her back!"

"It's alright, she'll be punished." Hu Mengdie smiled slightly, not caring at all.

Li Zhuangsheng is a straightforward, simpleton. If he sees her face, he will definitely go to Zhu Zhixue and demand an apology, because he has an extraordinary sense of justice and right and wrong.

Fortunately, she was smart and didn't lose her temper even in her rage. When she retaliated, she didn't hit Zhu Zhixue in the face, and Zhu Zhixue probably wouldn't explain anything.

Hu Mengdie had already guessed the outcome of Li Zhuangsheng's visit to Zhu Zhixue. In fact, in this situation, Li Zhuangsheng would only add fuel to the fire. Because Zhu Zhixue wouldn't listen to Li Zhuangsheng's reasoning; she would only think that Li Zhuangsheng was choosing between "Hu Mengdie" and "Zhu Zhixue."

His demand for Zhu Zhixue to apologize is clearly an act of favoritism towards Hu Mengdie. Therefore, Zhu Zhixue is bound to go crazy.

Young people can be quite stubborn; sometimes a single sentence can change their lives forever.

Regardless of whether Li Zhuangsheng and Zhu Zhixue will break up because of this, it will leave scars.

Actually, I didn't want to do this either, but you forced me to. Hu Mengdie thought to herself.

……

"It's been three days, are you still arguing?"

In the steamed king, Hu Mengdie blinked and stared intently at Li Zhuangsheng.

“We didn’t have a falling out,” Li Zhuangsheng said dryly, munching on Hu Mengdie’s leftovers.

"Not yet! Didn't you just say that none of you were talking anymore?"

"That's because she's unilaterally refusing to talk to me. Actually, I didn't do anything wrong... I think she was wrong in this matter! And she's acting so arrogantly after being wrong?"

"I already said it's okay, why do you have to argue with her?" Hu Mengdie said quietly. "Don't you like her? I don't want to ruin your good match."

Li Zhuang gulped down a mouthful of soup, wiped his mouth, and said, "I already told you I don't like her anymore. We're just on good terms! You don't need to take it to heart. Actually, I want to apologize to you."

Hu Mengdie tilted her head: "What do you want to apologize to me for?"

“I told her I wanted her to apologize to you, but…” Li Zhuangsheng lowered his head, looking embarrassed, “Oh, I’m so sorry!”

Hu Mengdie chuckled, her smile as shy as a peach blossom: "You didn't hit me, why are you apologizing?"

Li Zhuangsheng thought for a long time: "Because Zhu Zhixue is my friend... sigh, I don't know if she still is. But I'm really sorry, she hit you, I apologize to you on her behalf!"

Hu Mengdie pursed her lips, smiling silently. After a moment, she brought her face close to Li Zhuangsheng's: "Alright, this matter is over. Look at my face, how does it look now?"

Li Zhuangsheng examined the other person closely. The other person's face seemed to have recovered, just like before, as bright as the autumn moon, like a beautiful landscape painting, making people unconsciously intoxicated and mesmerized.

Their faces seemed to be getting closer and closer, and Li Zhuangsheng could almost feel Hu Mengdie's fragrant breath.

"What are you going to do?" Hu Mengdie asked softly.

Li Zhuangsheng suddenly snapped back to reality, his face flushed red, and quickly retreated, almost falling backward.

"Um, excuse me..."

Li Zhuangsheng cursed himself inwardly for being so pathetic, actually getting so mesmerized by Hu Mengdie's face.

"Hehe." Hu Mengdie covered her mouth and chuckled, her eyes filled with shy joy. "I thought you were going to kiss me just now... Oh dear, that was close! I almost lost my first kiss!"

"I'm so sorry, so sorry, so sorry!"

If it weren't for the fact that a man's knees are worth gold, Li Zhuangsheng would have really wanted to give Hu Mengdie a deep bow.

I almost acted like a hooligan just now, I deserve to die. But Hu Mengdie doesn't seem angry. Could it be… could it be? What are you talking about? She already said she doesn't like you!

"It's alright, it's not like it's a stranger." Hu Mengdie smiled.

What does "it's not just anyone" mean? Li Zhuangsheng was even more confused. Then he thought, "This must be Hu Mengdie flirting with me again!"
"Okay, enough joking around. See, I'm fine now, right?" Hu Mengdie pointed to her face. "So, it would be great if you two could make up." "It's not a question of whether we can make up or not..." Li Zhuangsheng shook his head, sighing inwardly.

Even though he didn't have romantic feelings for Zhu Zhixue, he still had a good impression of her. However, he couldn't understand what she was doing now, especially after comparing her to Hu Mengdie.

Hu Mengdie is so generous, gentle, and understanding. In comparison, Zhu Zhixue seems rather narrow-minded and willful.

"Forget it, forget it!" Li Zhuangsheng said irritably. "This is my fault. I'm sorry, thank you for not telling the teacher!"

"Hehe, it has nothing to do with you, but you always feel like it's your fault." Hu Mengdie laughed. "Since that's the case, then I'll punish you!"

Li Zhuangsheng readily agreed: "Alright, how do you want to punish me?"

Hu Mengdie narrowed her eyes, like a little fox: "Well, I haven't thought about it yet. But since you sincerely apologize, you have to grant me three wishes in the future."

"As long as it's not illegal, I can do it!"

The two agreed that Hu Mengdie's smile would become even more beautiful. Weekend training was scheduled, and Sunday afternoons would be a regular day off.

Hu Mengdie's first wish was to have Li Zhuangsheng accompany her shopping.

At one o'clock in the afternoon, Li Zhuangsheng and Hu Mengdie met at the agreed place. There wasn't much to do in the small county town, so the Guomao area was the only option for the two of them.

"You're here so early! I'm sorry I'm late." Hu Mengdie waved and smiled warmly.

"It's okay, I just arrived too..."

Before Li Zhuangsheng could finish speaking, he suddenly felt that the line sounded so familiar.

Isn't this a standard line from a date between the male and female protagonists in anime? Why are you talking about the male protagonist's lines? Do you also want to have something happen between you and the girl?

"How is it?" Hu Mengdie swayed slightly in front of Li Zhuangsheng, showing off the clothes she had just changed into. A denim jacket and riding boots, both cool and sweet.

She swayed slightly, which made one think of the phrase "graceful and charming".

"Uh, it looks good." Li Zhuangsheng nodded blankly.

This was the second time he had seen Hu Mengdie in casual clothes other than her school uniform, and the style was different from the skirt she wore last time.

"Isn't this style different from usual?" Hu Mengdie asked with a smile.

"Uh, it is a little different..."

Which one do you prefer?

"I think everything is fine."

Li Zhuangsheng couldn't help but glance at the black leggings on the other man's legs, clinging tightly to his thighs. To this young virgin, they were both novel and arousing. He seemed to have only ever seen them in movies and TV shows.

"Let's go. You must have gone shopping with your sister before, right?"

"Uh, occasionally."

Li Xiuyu wasn't particularly fond of shopping, but his partner and mother liked to buy him clothes when they went shopping, treating him like a dress-up doll.

"This is my first time going shopping with a guy," Hu Mengdie said with a smile. "But it feels like this isn't the first time with you; it's like we've gone out countless times before."

Li Zhuangsheng didn't understand what Hu Mengdie meant. What was she trying to say? Did she mean that the two of them had a special connection?
No, no…why is she being so ambiguous? She's still teasing me. Li Zhuangsheng, can you please stop overthinking such trivial matters?!
"It's been so long since I've been here. I really miss it," Hu Mengdie said with a smile as she stood side by side with Li Zhuangsheng.

"What are you missing? It's not like you haven't been here for years."

"Hmph, actually it's pretty much the same. Since we parted, ten years have passed like flowing water."

"This line of poetry..."

"Oh, you told me about it, and I quite like it."

When did I tell you that?

"You mentioned it, it seems you've forgotten... Well, actually there haven't been many changes. The layout of these streets in Guomao has always been the same, except for the shops and the food streets..."

Hu Mengdie looked around, then glanced at Li Zhuangsheng, a slight smile appearing on her face as she clicked her tongue to herself.

Li Zhuangsheng scratched his head; he was still a bit confused. Hu Mengdie would occasionally say things that were hard to understand, as if she had returned from the future.

"I want to eat this!"

Hu Mengdie looked at the stall selling candied hawthorns and pointed to the rock sugar apples among them.

"oh oh!"

Li Zhuangsheng honestly paid the money.

"Thank you!" Hu Mengdie happily took the candied apple and then held it to Li Zhuangsheng's lips. "Here, you can have a bite first."

"Ah...I..."

"It's okay, I don't mind you!" Hu Mengdie said meaningfully, as if she were still referring to the small matter before National Day.

Li Zhuangsheng gave a helpless wry smile, took a small bite of the candied apple, and then looked at Hu Mengdie's reaction with embarrassment. Hu Mengdie took the candied apple without any change in expression, took a small bite next to Li Zhuangsheng's bite mark, then shook the apple lightly as if to show off, and smiled at him while shaking her head.

Their bite marks were joined together. Li Zhuangsheng's cheeks flushed slightly. Looking at Hu Mengdie's playful little eyes, he felt a strange sensation in his heart, as if countless rabbits were jumping around.

So cute! I want to kiss her! Is there really anyone who doesn't like her?
The two continued strolling through the commercial alleys of the Guomao area. Hu Mengdie ate a small bite of a candied apple, recalling the first time they ate one after they started dating. Back then, it was the complete opposite; Hu Mengdie took a bite first, found it too sweet, and handed it to Li Zhuangsheng.

Li Zhuangsheng had eaten quite a bit of food beforehand, and he couldn't finish most of the apple. Seeing this, Hu Mengdie took it and finished the rest. Actually, they could have just thrown it away, but Li Zhuangsheng didn't like to waste food, so Hu Mengdie went along with his wishes.

"I can't finish it all, so you can have the rest. Don't waste it!"

Hu Mengdie solemnly handed the half-eaten apple to Li Zhuangsheng, who had gotten used to eating Hu Mengdie's leftovers.

But why am I so skilled at this... Hmm, it's all Li Xiuyu's fault! If I hadn't gotten used to eating Li Xiuyu's leftovers when I was little, I wouldn't be used to eating Hu Mengdie's leftovers now! Li Zhuangsheng thought to himself.

He held the bamboo skewer, and Hu Mengdie looked at him and smiled, a smile that made him blush inexplicably. He couldn't take it anymore; he suddenly realized he liked Hu Mengdie. He could stubbornly deceive himself, but he couldn't deceive the wildly agitated heart within him at that moment.

However, Hu Mengdie didn't like him. She had made it clear. Thinking of this, Li Zhuangsheng's heart sank again.

Why does he approach me in such an ambiguous way if he doesn't like me? He really wanted to grab Hu Mengdie and ask her for an explanation, but he didn't dare.

That's impolite; it's none of your business what a girl wants to do. (End of Chapter)