Can following the rules be called rebirth?

Chapter 211, Page 209: I Want You to Like Me (5k)

"The curfew is over, right?"

The designated driver slowly drove away from the Shanshui Huating residential area on his small and exquisite electric scooter.

Gu Caiwei moved the Birkin bag from her shoulder to her chest, took out her keys, and raised her wrist to check the time.

"correct."

Zhou Mingyuan smiled and nodded.

The curfew times for Nanhu University and Jiangcheng University of Finance and Economics are similar: 11 p.m. on weekdays and half an hour longer on holidays.

But it's getting close to midnight, so it's definitely too late to go back to the dorm.

"or."

The enthusiastic little princess turned her head, exchanged a glance with Li Zhi beside her, and spoke.

"How about we go upstairs to rest for a bit?"

"If you don't mind, there's an empty room available for you."

Gu Caiwei's gaze lingered on the man's chin, her eyes filled with warmth. She even spoke the last few words in a breathy tone, sending shivers down one's spine.

"No."

Without hesitation, Zhou Mingyuan shook his head and refused.

True masters understand four words: moderation and balance.

In fact, Gu Caiwei had already received enough surprises tonight.

When she gets too excited, she can easily get caught up in her intense emotions and not realize they've dried up until the night is over.

If I continue to act without knowing when to advance or retreat at this point, I will give her less time to process things on her own, which would be a mistake.

"You guys get some rest, it's alright, don't worry about me."

"Boys can spend the night in any internet cafe!"

"Okay, okay. Remember to let us know, and be careful."

Since the other party was so gentlemanly and polite, Gu Caiwei didn't insist.

In fact, she regretted it as soon as she opened her mouth.

Such an invitation could easily lead to misunderstandings between the two parties, and Gu Caiwei's mood instantly became complicated.

I was somewhat looking forward to his arrival, but also afraid that he might do something reckless.

"Bye~"

Zhou Mingyuan waved goodbye to the two men and turned to walk towards the main gate of the residential area.

Reaching a blind spot, he circled around and quickly made his way back home.

I have to say, being neighbors is really convenient!

The hallway was filled with the crisp sound of high heels clicking on the floor.

Click.

The motion-sensor lights turned on one after another, and warm light flowed into the entryway. The marble floor was so shiny that it reflected the light, and the air was filled with the fragrance of a homely young woman.

"Phew, I'm exhausted!"

Gu Caiwei's cheeks flushed red. She kicked off her high heels, stepped barefoot onto the soft, thick wool carpet, tossed her bag onto the custom-made low cabinet by the door, and plopped down in the center of the sofa.

"Hey! Aren't you going to take a shower or not?"

She shook Li Zhi, who was also walking with difficulty, and drew out her voice.

"You have to remove your makeup, right?"

Don't be fooled by Li Zhi's slow, sip-by-sip drinking; the next few glasses she ordered were all high-proof liquor, and a gust of wind would kick in.

The short-haired girl's alcohol tolerance was already low, and she looked like she was about to fall asleep as the car swayed along.

"Yes, you need to remove your makeup."

Li Zhi rubbed her eyes, unbuttoned her shirt at the neck, and, holding onto the furniture beside her, slowly shuffled towards the bathroom in her slippers.

The bathroom is another world.

The round jacuzzi, which was specially placed during the renovation, has already started to be filled with hot water, and is filled with steam infused with bergamot essential oil.

Li Zhi walked to the large double sink, took out a small clip from the cabinet, slowly clipped her hair, and prepared to start the makeup removal process.

"Baby! I'm here~"

The bathroom door opened again, and Gu Caiwei wrapped her arms around her best friend's waist from behind, giggling.

She tossed her favorite sea salt bath bomb into the bathtub; the pink bomb swirled and dissolved in the water, releasing a delightful fragrance.

The two, who are as close as sisters, have long been adept at saving time.

Gu Caiwei, with her hair reaching her waist, took a bath first, while Li Zhi could remove her makeup on the side.

When the time is almost up, then switch positions.

"Alright, alright, go wash up now."

The short-haired girl squinted, shook her shoulders, and shoved the clingy Gu Caiwei aside.

"Hey~~~"

"This bathtub is still too small. It's a bit cramped when the two of us take a bath together."

Gu Caiwei reached behind her back with one hand and ripped off the zipper of her dress with a "whoosh." Her fair skin seemed to melt in the warm light, contrasting beautifully with her black lace lingerie.

"not bad."

As her best friend's complaints echoed in her ears, Li Zhi laughed along.

"We'll definitely move to a bigger house someday and get a really, really big bathtub so my sister and I can bathe together every day!"

"Alright, alright, let's wait for Uncle and Aunt to have a change of heart."

"Li Zhi! You don't trust me at all? Can't I, the princess, make my own fortune?"

"Forget it."

The short-haired girl pouted, immediately exposing Gu Caiwei's confidence.

"I can trust you with small amounts of money for clothes and bags, but when it comes to buying a house, let alone the big house you're imagining, even this one you have now costs close to a million, right?"

As she spoke, Li Zhiyu slightly lifted her foot and gently stomped on the ground.

"And given your personality, even if you earned a seven-figure sum one day, would you immediately use it to buy a house?"

"The odds are even lower than if someone just gave it to you directly."

"Humph!"

Unable to argue with her, Gu Caiwei walked to the bathtub, tested the water temperature, took a comfortable long breath, and slid into the warm water.

The hot water instantly enveloped my body, and my tense nerves gradually relaxed.

The girl closed her eyes, resting the back of her neck on the smooth edge of the bathtub, her long brown curly hair spreading out on the water's surface.

The only sounds in the bathroom were the rushing water and the soft clinking of bottles and jars as Li Zhi removed her makeup.

The steam blurred the mirror.

"That's right~"

Gu Caiwei closed her eyes, her voice languid and moist.

"Ok?"

"Don't you think he was quite a gentleman today?"

"gentleman?"

Li Zhi's voice came through the steam, accompanied by the soft sound of makeup remover pads rubbing against her skin.

"Yeah! Look at him, he's usually such a scumbag, but he can talk a good game about anything. Today, he even took advantage of being a shield to secretly hug both of us."

Gu Caiwei stretched out her legs, her snow-white toes adorned with rose-colored nail polish, rippling in circles.

"But when you actually ask him to go upstairs to rest, he's the first one to run away."

"Indeed."

Li Zhi nodded in agreement.

I'd rather just find a way to get to an internet cafe myself than cause them any trouble.

Gu Caiwei's question at the time might have sounded like mere politeness to an ordinary person.

But everyone involved knows that she is serious.

However, the other party's refusal was equally formal.

This is quite a contrast to Zhou Mingyuan, who often makes grand pronouncements and never acts in a conventional manner.

"Let me tell you~"

Gu Caiwei's soft, sweet voice sank into the water, light and airy.

“Baby, I used to think that you were the only one in the world who understood me the most, and even when it came to giving gifts, only you could touch my heart.”

"now what?"

Li Zhi paused for a moment, then stood on tiptoe to observe her best friend's facial expression in the mirror.

"Now, I guess he can barely be considered one."

"Did he also hit the nail on the head?"

The short-haired girl pressed for an answer.

"There's no way around it, the past, present, and future are just too romantic!"

Gu Caiwei rested her right arm on the edge of the bathtub, her fingertips tracing the smooth glaze.

"Past, present, and future?"

Li Zhi stopped what she was doing, turned her head to the side, and looked on with curiosity.

"Well, besides the fireworks camera and digital currency, there's another gift he received that's also related to him."

As the steam rose, Gu Caiwei's delicate cheeks became even more rosy, and her voice became sweet and cloying.

"I went back to the store today, and the staff gave me a handmade gift: a music box. Inside are clay figurines that everyone made. There are me, you, and all the little things that have happened since the establishment of Relief Coffee."

"."

Li Zhi was speechless.

Despite being tipsy from the alcohol, she could still easily see clearly that this must be the "past" her best friend had mentioned.

Oh shit!

This thoughtfulness.
Even she had to admit that it was incredibly touching.

The steam was still thick, but someone else was in the bathtub.

Gu Caiwei quickly removed her makeup, wrapped herself in a bath towel, and returned to the living room barefoot.

Her rosy cheeks and wet hair were reflected in the mirror, and she exuded a natural, unadorned beauty.

I dried my hair, grabbed a hair tie and tied it into a ponytail. Then I opened the wardrobe and picked out a purple slip dress from a row of silk fabrics.

The silky, cool fabric feels comfortable against the skin.

As if remembering something, she ran to the entrance and pulled out her phone.

I've found a place to rest, don't worry, goodnight~

as predicted.

Zhou Mingyuan sent a message in the three-person WeChat group to let everyone know he was safe. Gu Caiwei, finally relieved, didn't reply, tossed her phone aside, and took out tonight's spoils from her bag.

Um.
Place the camera near the computer first, and store the 10 BTC in a cold wallet another day. Remember to write down the private key in a memo.

Oh, and there's a group photo too!
The girl reached out, touched the innermost part of the bag, and pulled out a thick Polaroid photo with two fingers.

In the photo, Zhou Mingyuan stands between the two.

His features were deep-set, with distinct eyebrows and eyes.

As she looked at it, she couldn't help but chuckle softly.

I'm so happy today.

Gu Caiwei stared at it for a long time, then opened a shopping app and quickly placed an order for a photo frame, deciding to hang it in the living room.

Only after she lay back in her comfortable and soft bed did Li Zhi stroll over and open the bathroom door, releasing puffs of steam.

"Come quick, baby!"

Which photo do you think is the best today?

Gu Caiwei had an open tablet computer in front of her and was waving and smiling at her best friend.

The master bedroom was not lit by the main light; the light from the living room was barely enough to illuminate the room.

She rested her hands on her chin, half of her body lying on the bed, her purple nightgown hanging down naturally, her pair of fair and slender legs raised in the air, her thighs with taut, smooth skin, and her jade feet with cherry blossoms on them, all clearly visible in the moonlight.

Let me see~

Li Zhi turned off the light, threw off her flip-flops, and, enveloped in the scent of the same shower gel, snuggled up next to Gu Caiwei.

"Here, what do you think of these?"

"Let me tell you, it's a pity you can't post videos on WeChat Moments, otherwise I would definitely have included the fireworks I just watched!"

"I can only post on Weibo now."

Eighteen or nineteen-year-olds are at an age when their desire to share and confide in others is at its peak.

In addition, birthdays are inherently a ritual, so Gu Caiwei took a lot of photos throughout the day as material.

"This one is not allowed to be sent."

Li Zhi reached out and swiped to one of the photos that contained her: "My expression looks so ugly in this one! Let's change it."

"Oh dear, where is it ugly!"

As Gu Caiwei deleted the options, two small dimples appeared at the corners of her mouth: "You really have a heavy idol image to maintain."

In her drafts folder were photos she had carefully selected to post on her WeChat Moments.

There were roommates having a small gathering, some casual photos, a birthday cake, and some local Shanghai cuisine.

Of course, one cannot forget the flawless beauty of myself and Li Zhi in the evening breeze.

"This time! No need for photo editing, don't we all look amazing?"

"Go, go, go."

The phone was handed to Li Zhi again, and the short-haired girl glanced at it and said, "Huh?"

"Weiwei, are you going to post this last picture on your WeChat Moments too?"

"what's wrong?"

Gu Caiwei blinked.

The last photo in the nine-grid is a Polaroid selfie she just took with her phone.

"it's not good?"

Li Zhi seemed to want to say something, but hesitated.

From her perspective, although this photo is a second-hand Polaroid, its image quality is incomparable to her previous high-definition and beautiful photos.

However, the content is subtle and appears to be Zhou Mingyuan holding the two sisters in his arms.

There's no problem with friends celebrating birthdays and expressing their feelings.

But if your distant relatives see it, they'll inevitably start asking all sorts of questions.

"Don't worry~"

Gu Caiwei whispered in her best friend's ear, "I already set it to be visible to specific groups."

"No wonder!"

Li Zhi sat cross-legged against the edge of the bed and yawned widely.

As best friends with extremely complementary personalities, she had long been accustomed to Gu Caiwei's vigorous vitality and desire to express herself.

People with strong vitality share very obvious common characteristics.

It's about being tireless in one's pursuit of life.

His focused and serious attitude when learning about investing, his joy and excitement when paying for the first time at a coffee shop, his camera-carrying snapshots of peonies in full bloom in the park, the satisfied smile on his face when eating a big meal, and his innocent expression without any anxiety about the future.

Always bright and lovely.

Having spent so much time with Gu Caiwei since childhood, Li Zhi appears to be more rational and calm, but in reality, she is the one nourished by boundless vitality.

Gu Caiwei would suddenly have a whimsical idea and drag her to travel to unfamiliar cities, feed the seagulls flying overhead with three bags of bread costing ten yuan, chat with her about her ideal type in the future after getting slightly drunk, and buy a Sailor Moon mask and happily wave it around at home.

She was dragged along by Gu Caiwei to do many silly things together, and then they would laugh and pretend to forget them.

Like the wind speeding through the sunset, it is etched into our shared memories.

"OK!"

"I'll get another hundred likes when I wake up tomorrow!"

Gu Caiwei made a peace sign, opened the drafts folder to edit the text, checked the accompanying image and confirmed it was correct, then clicked send.

"Hurry up and go to sleep."

Alcohol took effect, and Li Zhi had been trying to stay awake since she entered the room, removing her makeup and taking a shower. Her double eyelids were constantly fighting, and she was extremely sleepy.

"Aren't you going to chat with me anymore?"

Gu Caiwei, on the other hand, was in high spirits. She took a water glass from the bedside table next to her and took a big gulp.

"We haven't finished chatting yet~"

Li Zhi grabbed a cushion, hugged it to her chest, lifted a corner of the blanket and crawled inside, her starry eyes half-closed and her tone gentle.

"Okay, I'll stay with you a little longer."

"you say."

Seeing the short-haired girl's actions, Gu Caiwei also lay down on the pillow, gently squinting her eyes, her soft, sweet voice flowing through the night.

"Ok?"

Li Zhi hummed through her nose, already drifting into a half-dream, half-awake state.

"Tell me, what does it really feel like to like someone?"

Moonlight filtered through the curtains, gently bathing the two of them.

Her long eyelashes trembled slightly, and her fingertips traced circles along the hem of her skirt.

This is a question that can only be discussed with my closest girlfriend in bed.

"This one"

Li Zhi remained in the same posture, seemingly exhausted and unable to think clearly, and responded instinctively.

"The book says that when you like someone, it's easy to be emotionally affected. You're happy when you see them and your heart races when you talk to them."

The short-haired girl's voice grew softer and softer, almost like she was murmuring to herself.

"I see."

Gu Caiwei bit her lower lip, lost in thought.

"Discussing this topic is pointless."

"why?"

Instead of spending energy analyzing what it feels like to like someone, it's better to first figure out if they like you back.

"."

The atmosphere suddenly became subtle and quiet.

A few minutes later, Li Zhi, who had not heard any sound, fell into a deep sleep, her breathing becoming calm and long.

"Hello~"

"Baby? Lychee? Sweet pear?"

Are you asleep?

Gu Caiwei tentatively called out a few times in a low voice, but seeing no response, she sat up straight, pulled back the blanket, and quietly retrieved her phone from the bedside table.

Compared to Li Zhi, who would risk her life to accompany her best friend even when her alcohol tolerance was completely depleted, everything that happened tonight excited her greatly.

She needs to be alone to process these emotions.

The girl leaned against the headboard, letting the strap of her nightgown slip to one side, revealing her round, fair shoulder and her collarbone seemingly glowing.

She swiped up and down repeatedly, a beautiful crescent smile curving her lips as she reminisced about the events of the evening.

The comments on social media kept coming in, and they were exactly as I had guessed.

In particular, the video of fireworks that wrote her name in the night sky, posted on Weibo, successfully ignited the curiosity of almost all her friends in less than an hour.

【Fuck! ! ! 】

This is outrageously extravagant! Whose princess celebrates her birthday this romantically?

Gu Caiwei, are you trying to make us so envious?

How did they do that?! How did they do that?! How did they do that?!

Whoever helps me celebrate this birthday, I'll remember it for the rest of my life.

"Cut~"

"What a fuss."

Gu Caiwei looked at the comments with delight and watched the video twice more before finally putting down her phone.

She tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.

Finally, she simply got out of bed and tiptoed to the desk.

Pulling open the bottom drawer, I easily took out the well-hidden journal.

That makes sense.

It would be a disservice to myself not to write something on such an important day.

The girl picked up a pen, carefully turned to a new page, and wrote each stroke carefully.

-2014.11.23
My little birthday wish:
I want to lose weight, read more books, become more attractive, keep the "Relief Coffee" open, and record more interesting things.

The pen nib lingered on the last sentence for a long time.

Five seconds, ten seconds, thirty seconds.

She gripped the pen tip tightly and held it suspended in the air for a full half minute.

Finally, she took a deep breath, started a new line below, and scribbled out five large characters in a flamboyant manner. As if she had been burned, she quickly closed the notebook and stuffed it back into the drawer.

I want you to like me.

(End of this chapter)