Reborn in 1977, I will no longer be my brother's blood bag.

"Notice Regarding the Resumption of College Entrance Examinations..."

The broadcast continued.

But Lin Xiuhe could no longer hear anything else.

She stood behind the counter, her fingers tightening little by little, her heart pounding.

The college entrance examination was reinstated.

It's really coming.

It wasn't a dream, nor a remnant of a memory. In this life, she finally heard it with her own ears.

In my past life, it was this very day.

She was so excited that she didn't sleep all night. She dug out her old textbooks, reorganized her dusty notes, and even secretly planned what it would be like if she got into university.

But what happened next?

Later, Wang Xiulan discovered this and threw the textbook into the stove. The firelight illuminated half the room, the papers curled up, and page by page burned to ashes.

She knelt by the stove, crying, begging them to return the book to her. But no one paid her any attention.

That night, she watched helplessly as her future was burned away.

Thinking of this, a cold glint flashed in Lin Xiuhe's eyes.

This time, it won't happen again.

"Xiuhe?" Director Zhao's voice pulled her back to reality. "What are you daydreaming about?"

"what?"

"The broadcast has already finished." Director Zhao shook his head with a smile. "What, you want to go to university too?"

Someone in the office burst into laughter.

"Who wouldn't want that now? I heard that if you pass the exam, you'll get a guaranteed food ration and a job assignment. That's what college students are all about!"

Several people started discussing it amongst themselves.

The female colleague with the braided pigtails also came over: "Xiuhe, how were your grades in high school?"

Lin Xiuhe paused for a moment, then said, "It's alright."

"How good is 'okay'?"

"Top of the class."

The air suddenly went quiet for a moment. Several people looked up at the same time.

"Really? You can actually rank among the top in your grade?"

"Then you should definitely give it a try!"

Director Zhao was also somewhat surprised: "No wonder he was able to pass the exam and get into the supply and marketing cooperative; he must be a good student."

Lin Xiuhe did not explain.

Because she knew that saying anything now was pointless. What truly mattered was time—the college entrance exam was fast approaching. And she still had a lot to do: textbooks, materials, registration, and most importantly—reviewing.

Thinking of this, she suddenly asked, "Director, has anyone been selling used books lately?"

Director Zhao was taken aback: "Old books?"

"Yes, high school textbooks, the more complete the better."

Director Zhao thought for a moment: "There are scrap yards, but they've been almost completely ransacked. If you really want to find one, you can ask around in the various production teams."

Lin Xiuhe's eyes brightened slightly.

Yes, how could she forget? In her past life, after the news of the resumption of the college entrance examination came out, textbooks were the first items to increase in price. Many people sold their books, then bought them back at high prices, and some couldn't even get their hands on them.

Right now, the news has just come out, and most people haven't even reacted yet.

Thinking of this, she tapped her fingertips lightly twice on the counter, and the light in her eyes darkened.

At that time, books were just worthless paper; in a few days, they would be highly sought-after commodities.

The price difference was enough for her to buy quite a few things.

Just then, footsteps came from the entrance of the supply and marketing cooperative.

"Buy salt."

A voice rang out.

Lin Xiuhe subconsciously looked up.

The next second, she froze.

Zhou Zhiyuan.

He stood outside the counter, a cloth bag loosely draped between his fingers, his expression indifferent, no different from the other neighbors who came to buy odds and ends.

"How much do you want?" Lin Xiuhe asked.

"One jin (500 grams)."

She lowered her head to weigh the salt, but for some reason, she felt a gaze falling on her—a gaze that was brief, yet very real.

"Here you go." She handed over the salt.

Zhou Zhiyuan took it, but did not leave immediately.

"Did you hear the broadcast?" he suddenly asked.

Lin Xiuhe's heart skipped a beat: "I heard you."

"Preparing for the exam?"

His voice remained nonchalant. But for some reason, Lin Xiuhe felt that he already knew the answer.

"Mm." She nodded.

"Then start preparing early," Zhou Zhiyuan said. "Many people will be taking the exam, and the books will become increasingly difficult to buy."

Snapped!

Lin Xiuhe suddenly looked up.

At that moment, that strange feeling returned to her. Because that sentence was exactly the same as what she had just thought of.

What a coincidence! It's almost too much of a coincidence!

"How did you know?" she couldn't help but ask.

The air was slightly quiet.

Zhou Zhiyuan looked at her for two seconds, then looked away: "Just guessing."

After saying that, he picked up the salt, turned around, and left decisively.

But Lin Xiuhe stood there, motionless for a long time.

Guess? Is it really just a guess?

she does not know.

But one thing she was certain of—this person had been strange from the very first time they met. It was as if he always knew a lot of things in advance.

At that moment, Zhou Zhiyuan, who had just walked out of the supply and marketing cooperative, also frowned slightly.

He realized that Lin Xiuhe was far more perceptive than in his previous life. If things continued this way, she would inevitably become suspicious sooner or later.

Thinking of this, he looked down at the salt in his hand and suddenly felt a little helpless.

He didn't have time to help her in his past life.

In this life, however, I must first learn to pretend I don't know her.

The wind blew through the streets, and a loudspeaker in the distance continued to broadcast announcements.

Lin Xiuhe had already bent down to pick up the order form that had just fallen to the ground, her eyes gradually hardening.

Whatever secrets Zhou Zhiyuan may have, it doesn't matter now.

The important thing is that the college entrance examination has been reinstated.

She had been waiting for this day for two lifetimes.