Rebirth: Start to Save the Treasure Girl

"Xiao Rui, is the water too cold?"

Gu Muxue moved gently, recalling Xue Rui and Lin Ruoxi's daily life, which was pretty much like this.

She wanted to do everything Lin Ruoxi had done, and see Xue Rui from Lin Ruoxi's perspective.

Just like before in the woods, Xue Rui became very different from usual.

"It's not cold," Xue Rui replied with a forced smile.

The water wasn't cold, but his heart was half-cooled.

What signal is Gu Muxue sending?
It's like he's competing with Lin Ruoxi.

It's as if it's saying: Who is gentler between us?
No, no, we absolutely cannot let it become a free-for-all.

Xue Rui opened his phone and pointed the camera at Gu Muxue: "Muxue, look at the camera."

This is one of his few trump cards. Gu Muxue is most afraid that he will record audio and video, thus leaving behind a "dark history".

Gu Muxue frowned, instinctively turning her face away, and even had an urge to snatch the phone.

But would Lin Ruoxi do that?

The answer is no.

Xue Rui stared nervously at the viewfinder, only to see Gu Muxue in the lens look up and smile sweetly, saying, "Xiao Rui, what are you filming?"

"Um... I want to record some of the good things in life."

Xue Rui's heart skipped a beat. Was this still Gu Muxue?
"If you like, I'll wash you every day from now on. There's nothing worth recording."

Gu Muxue spoke in a calm tone, as if she were recounting a trivial matter.

Xue Rui's palms were sweating as he listened, and a scene flashed through his mind:
Lin Ruoxi and Gu Muxue looked at each other while holding foot basins, their gazes almost distorting the air where they met.

"Mu Xue, I'm a grown man, I don't need anyone to wait on me," Xue Rui said awkwardly, putting away his phone.

"Oh?" Gu Muxue carefully wiped Xue Rui's feet, then looked up and smiled slightly: "That's not necessarily true. It's hard to go from luxury to frugality."

Gu Muxue didn't mention Lin Ruoxi at all, but to Xue Rui, every word she said sounded like she was talking about Lin Ruoxi.

"Okay~" Gu Muxue gently patted Xue Rui's instep, signaling him to pull his foot back.

"Oh." Xue Rui subconsciously withdrew his foot and rubbed Gu Muxue's head: "Xixi..."

Upon hearing the name "Xi Xi," Gu Muxue immediately looked up.

Xue Rui's hand froze in mid-air, thinking to himself that things were going to get bad.

He was trained by Lin Ruoxi to have conditioned reflexes...

He subconsciously prepared to praise her: "Xixi is so great."

But the person washing his feet today was Gu Muxue...

Gu Muxue tilted her head back, her cheeks puffed out, as if she were quite angry; her bright, peach-blossom eyes seemed to speak volumes.
You just called out to Xixi, right?

Xue Rui reacted very quickly; he immediately changed his words:
"Hehe~ Mu Xue, you've finally met your match."

Xue Rui put on a smug look and shamelessly rubbed Gu Muxue's head.

Gu Muxue pursed her lips, giving Xue Rui a slightly resentful look, thinking to herself:

I finally get around to serving you, and you still manage to get your name wrong...

Can't be angry, can't be angry.

"Um, I'm going to wash my face and brush my teeth."

Xue Rui hurriedly put on his slippers and rushed out the door.

After entering the bathroom and locking the door, Xue Rui plunged into the sink to rinse himself off.

The cool water washed over Xue Rui's nerves, making him even more certain that he was not dreaming.

Gu Muxue really did massage his shoulders and back, and brought him water to wash his feet...

Afterwards, Xue Rui sat on the toilet, opened his phone calendar, and flipped through it for a long time, but still couldn't find what day it was.

"Could it be the anniversary of our first time holding hands?"

Xue Rui scratched his head, still unable to find a reasonable explanation, and could only conclude that Gu Muxue was competing with Lin Ruoxi.

"Forget it, let fate decide," Xue Rui said through gritted teeth.

Back in the room, it was pitch black. By the light from outside the door, Xue Rui could barely make out Gu Muxue's figure on the bed.

"Mu Xue, are you asleep?" Xue Rui asked in a low voice.

After waiting for a long time without receiving a reply from the room, Xue Rui felt a surge of secret joy.

However, just as Xue Rui tiptoed to lie down, a soft arm appeared around his waist and gently climbed up to his chest.

"Mu Xue, you're still awake?" Xue Rui asked guiltily, as he unbuttoned his pajamas one button at a time.

Xue Rui nervously grasped Gu Muxue's hand, thinking to himself that this was truly the first time ever...

"Xiao Rui, didn't you tell me that sleeping naked is good for your health?"

Gu Muxue pushed Xue Rui's hand away and continued unbuttoning her clothes.

“Uh…” Xue Rui was speechless; he had indeed said those words.

Moreover, judging from the feel of the blanket, Gu Muxue had indeed set a good example, and he couldn't find a single fault with her.

This left Xue Rui feeling empty inside. Wasn't he the one who usually teased Gu Muxue?
Xue Rui turned around and pulled Gu Muxue into his arms, teasing her as usual. But Gu Muxue didn't curl up and hide as usual; instead, she let Xue Rui do whatever he wanted.

"Well!"

Xue Rui's eyes widened suddenly, and he felt a soft touch on his lips, while hot breath brushed against his face.

Perhaps because of the cold water he was washing his face, Xue Rui felt that Gu Muxue's face was very hot.

For a moment, Xue Rui felt a lack of blood supply to his brain and felt dizzy.

This is... Gu Muxue's haven of tenderness.

Xue Rui tried to clear his head. He hugged Gu Muxue even tighter, their faces close together, and asked softly, "Muxue, what's wrong with you today?"

Gu Muxue gently shook her head: "Xiao Rui, didn't you say you'd eat me for dinner? You can do whatever you want to me."

"You have something on your mind, tell me about it."

Xue Rui thought that as long as he was gentle, Gu Muxue wouldn't be able to bring herself to be cruel.

Gu Muxue didn't reply for a long time, but Xue Rui felt as if ants were crawling on his face, making him itchy.

The place I climbed was still cool...

Xue Rui was startled; these were Gu Muxue's tears.

"Don't cry, tell me what happened, okay?"

Xue Rui pulled Gu Muxue's face into his arms and gently stroked her head, just like he always did to Lin Ruoxi.

Gu Muxue kept her eyes tightly closed, her body trembling uncontrollably as she choked on her sobs.

Gu Muxue was just a young girl experiencing her first love, and Xue Rui was her first love...

The days she spent alone with Xue Rui were so wonderful that Gu Muxue began to have second thoughts.

Gu Muxue knew very well that as long as she wanted to do it, she would succeed.

The pills she took for depression will become a source of guilt for Xue Rui, and this alone is enough for her to keep Xue Rui firmly by her side.

But Lin Ruoxi had already left an indelible mark on Xue Rui's heart. Just now, when she humbled herself to wash Xue Rui's feet, Xue Rui actually called out Lin Ruoxi's name...

She could control Xue Rui's body, but she couldn't control his heart.

If Xue Rui is forced by her to live a life with just the two of them, will Xue Rui be happy?
Or perhaps... it's even better if the three of us live together.

The air in Xue Rui's arms was unbearably hot, making it hard for Gu Muxue to breathe. She instinctively wanted to push Xue Rui away so she could get some fresh air.

But feeling Xue Rui's gentle hand, Gu Muxue hugged him even tighter.

She would rather drown than escape.

“Xiao Rui… I can give you everything she can.” Gu Muxue’s voice trembled.

She still wanted to try. Xue Rui was immediately struck dumb; Gu Muxue's unspoken meaning was clear:
I can give you everything Lin Ruoxi can give me, can you leave her?

"Mu Xue, why are you trying to emulate her? She's a good-for-nothing." Xue Rui shook Gu Mu Xue and said seriously, "Let's not be like her."

I'm sorry, Xixi, but I was forced by circumstances to slander you.

Gu Muxue said helplessly, "Xiao Rui, aren't I the same?"

"You're different. Take my quitting smoking, for example. It's 100% thanks to you. Xixi doesn't have that kind of ability. If I just beg her a few times, do you believe I can light a cigarette for you myself..."

Xue Rui kept emphasizing Gu Muxue's importance.

"I have poor self-control. If it weren't for you, I'm afraid I wouldn't live to be thirty..."

"Stop talking!" Gu Muxue covered Xue Rui's mouth, preventing him from continuing.

Xue Rui nodded, and Gu Muxue slowly released her hand.

"Xiao Rui." Gu Muxue sighed deeply before she could finish speaking.

Xue Rui's meaning was clear: he wouldn't let Lin Ruoxi leave.

Yes, she just asked on a whim. After all, she and Xue Rui both knew what would happen to Lin Ruoxi after she left Xue Rui.

And she really couldn't think of a good solution.

If something happens to Lin Ruoxi, what good would it do to keep Xue Rui by her side?
She and Xue Rui would live with guilt for the rest of their lives, so how could they possibly be happy?

"Mu Xue, please don't wash my feet anymore, my heart can't take it," Xue Rui pleaded.

Gu Muxue is very sensible; as long as he lowers his attitude, Gu Muxue will agree to anything.

Well... to put it bluntly, he's just a kept man.

"Hmph!" Gu Muxue turned around angrily: "Who wants to wash you? You got a free ride today."

"I'll wash it for you tomorrow and return it to you."

Xue Rui immediately beamed with joy. The fact that Gu Muxue started to throw a little tantrum meant that the matter was over.

"No, hand over the privilege coupons I gave you, let me tear off a few."

Gu Muxue stretched out her small hand, and Xue Rui gestured repeatedly with his face.

Xue Rui's gaze froze; it was a Valentine's Day gift from Gu Muxue.

"That won't do. I didn't say how to use it. The consumer is king," Xue Rui said slowly.

"Xiao Rui, didn't you see it clearly? There's actually another sentence after that," Gu Muxue said with a smile.

"What?"

Xue Rui turned on the bedside lamp and took out his treasured "privilege coupon" from the drawer. He hadn't figured out how to use it yet.

Of course, it would be best to save them up and use them all at once, so that Lin Ruoxi and Gu Muxue could serve you both, with one on each side...

"There's a line of small print on the back of the last page," Gu Muxue said, her eyes crinkling as she huddled under the covers.

Following Gu Muxue's prompting, Xue Rui murmured and read aloud the small print: "The final interpretation right belongs to Gu Muxue."

Gu Muxue seized the opportunity to snatch the booklet and tore off a few pages from the middle: "These pages are useless; you've already experienced them."

"What a shrewd businessman! Once something is given away, there's no reason to take it back," Xue Rui couldn't help but complain.

His most prized "massage voucher" was gone, but he hadn't even enjoyed it yet...

"Hmph, you're the real swindler, always eating all the snacks you give me yourself." Gu Muxue pinched Xue Rui's cheek:

"What's even worse is that you not only ate your own food, but you also secretly ate my snacks."

Xue Rui chuckled and patted his belly: "It's all turned into meat, so take it if you dare."

Gu Muxue bit Xue Rui's cheek, her words muffled: "Give me back my little cake and cookies..."

A smile appeared in Xue Rui's eyes. Gu Muxue still had that cute and fierce look. He couldn't bear to bite her, nor could he bear to hit her. In the end, he always ended up making himself very angry.

With such an adorable appearance, who could resist taking a couple of bites?

Xue Rui rolled over and pinned Gu Muxue beneath him.

"Xiao Rui, what do you want to do?" Gu Muxue pushed Xue Rui's face away.

"Stealing a small cake."

Xue Rui and Gu Muxue's expressions were contorted as they pushed, but they still wouldn't let it go.

"Dream on." Gu Muxue clutched her chest, her face beaming with a smile.

The two wrestled for a while, throwing pillows under the bed, but thanks to Gu Muxue's vigilance, Xue Rui ultimately failed to succeed.

"Mu Xue, why have you become so stingy?" Xue Rui asked, sounding disappointed.

Gu Muxue didn't care about landing at all.

Gu Muxue's big eyes blinked. She gently hugged Xue Rui from behind, deliberately keeping a little distance, and stammered:
"Xiao Rui, I never intended to control you. You can do it whenever you want, but you still need to be more restrained, it's not good for your health."

"Mu Xue, who do you think you are? I'll have you get a medical check-up right now."

Gu Muxue chuckled and gently comforted her:

"Okay, okay, I know you're good at this. How about tomorrow?"

Gu Muxue touched Xue Rui's face, as if making a promise to a child.

"Row."

Xue Rui felt a warmth in his heart, thinking that the little girl really knew how to take care of people.

Unlike Lin Ruoxi, Gu Muxue knows how to exercise restraint, and everything must be done in an orderly manner.

"Mu Xue, meeting you is my greatest fortune." Xue Rui kissed Gu Mu's forehead and then put his arm around Gu Mu Xue's shoulder with satisfaction.

"Move over a bit, you're stepping on my hair!" Gu Muxue suddenly shouted.

"Okay~"

Xue Rui flipped the food over, and suddenly felt a sense of familiarity, like that of an old married couple...

Before long, Xue Rui fell into a deep sleep.

Gu Muxue secretly slipped out of Xue Rui's arms and tiptoed under the pillow for a while.

Before long, Gu Muxue found Xue Rui's phone.

"Hmph, they even secretly recorded it."

Gu Muxue opened Xue Rui's photo album; she wanted to delete the video Xue Rui had recorded of him washing her feet.

However, the first few rows of the album contained no videos, or even photos.

"Where is it hidden?"

As she flipped through the album, Gu Muxue became engrossed in Xue Rui's photos, completely forgetting what she was supposed to be doing.

As her thumb slid across the screen, countless photos scrolled through Gu Muxue's eyes, and the timeline on the screen rolled to 2013.

Suddenly, she noticed a photo of herself sleeping on the table.

Gu Muxue looked angry, thinking that Xue Rui only knew how to take unflattering photos.

Scrolling down a few more pages, I found a video of Xue Rui secretly eating snacks in her desk. The video was taken by Qiu Mengze, and Gu Muxue was there at the time, standing at the back door of the classroom and watching secretly.

In the video, Xue Rui sticks his head into the drawer, sneaks a bite of food, and glances out the window, as if afraid of being caught.

The last second of the video is Qiu Mengze's exclamation: "Xue Rui, Gu Muxue is right at the back door!"

"Huh?" Xue Rui suddenly stood up, with potato chip crumbs still on his lips.

……

Gu Muxue covered her mouth and chuckled. Xue Rui's sneaky appearance was just too funny. She pressed the share button and sent the video to herself.

After doing all that, Gu Muxue put the phone back under Xue Rui's pillow and then poked Xue Rui's forehead.

She whispered in Xue Rui's ear:
"Xiao Rui, I've never told you, but those snacks were originally prepared for you." (End of Chapter)