Rebirth: My Childhood Sweetheart Came into My Arms

After Jiang Nanqiao finished speaking, she felt a little uneasy.

Although she's currently obsessed with the "Eryu CP" (a popular pairing of two male celebrities), to be honest, it's not really certain who He Ziyu actually likes.

She'd read too many novels with those love-hate relationships, and once her "CP brain" calmed down, she'd start considering other possibilities.

For example, He Ziyu still cares about Lan Yuan.

For example, his closeness to Jiang Chengyu was a way to use emotional abuse against Lan Yuan.

Thinking it over, Jiang Nanqiao gripped the drawing tighter. "Well, I didn't draw this for any other reason than to express the love and care among classmates..."

"That's great! I love socialist harmony the most." He Ziyu smiled, looking completely indifferent.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Nanqiao swallowed hard in surprise.

It's important to know that He Ziyu's cabinet door had long been locked shut, so it's impossible that he didn't understand what the painting represented.

So, can she interpret this as the person in question tacitly agreeing?

Having grasped the secret of heaven, Jiang Nanqiao felt her blood rush to her head, and her face instantly turned bright red. She bit her lip, lowered her head slightly, and tried her best to hide the lewd aunt smile that flashed across her face before handing over the painting.

"Then, please accept it, He Tongxue!"

"..."

Jiang Nanqiao's voice was loud and clear, with a tremor, completely different from how she had been subservient to Squidward in the office just moments before.

Students passing by in the corridor saw this and thought she was confessing her love to He Ziyu.

"Wow! Has Sister Qiao gone mad? She actually confessed to Young Master He? Is she willing to become a lesbian's wife for love?"

"What do you mean by 'wife of a gay man'? He Ziyu hasn't come out of the closet..."

"He did that to Lan Yuan, and that doesn't count as coming out? Do you think you only come out when you're shouting 'I'm gay' through a megaphone?"

The onlookers whispered among themselves; some felt sorry for Jiang Nanqiao, while others wanted to become her apprentices.

However, Jiang Nanqiao couldn't hear the comments at all; she felt like she was floating on air, so happy she was about to ascend to heaven.

He Ziyu tucked the scroll under his arm, took the painting with both hands, and gently unfurled it.

It must be said that Jiang Nanqiao has excellent painting skills.

The simple sketches clearly outlined the two figures, capturing even the subtle expressions in their eyes and brows.

Especially his hand holding Jiang Chengyu's...

That's absolutely brilliant!

He Ziyu couldn't help but smile, his joy overflowing.

Seeing He Ziyu smile, Jiang Nanqiao's last bit of concern vanished. She rubbed her hands together, her eyebrows dancing with excitement, and asked, "How was it? Did it have that vibe?"

He Ziyu nodded without hesitation, "Yes."

Upon receiving affirmation from the person in question, Jiang Nanqiao was so excited she almost fainted.

"Look how happy Sister Qiao is! Did she successfully confess her feelings?"

"It's possible for a straight line to become curved, but it's not that easy for a curved line to become straight, unless He Ziyu is bisexual..."

The surrounding chatter continued.

He Ziyu ignored the chattering crowd, folded the painting and put it in his pocket, then told Jiang Nanqiao to wait for him in the classroom after school.

Jiang Nanqiao thought it was a matter for the student council and agreed without hesitation.

……

After the school bell rang, the students left in a rush. He Ziyu packed his schoolbag and told He Ningqiu to wait in the car first.

Tell Uncle Chen I'll come out in half an hour.

"Brother, what are you going to do...?"

Don't ask.

He Ningqiu directly retorted with the name He Ziyu.

At the same time, Jiang Chengyu behind him also packed his things and hung his schoolbag on his shoulder.

"Ah Yu, aren't we leaving together today?"

"Okay," He Ziyu said, "I have something I want to talk to Qiaoqiao about. You can go now."

Although they said they were walking together, it was only a few hundred meters from the teaching building to the playground, but even so, Jiang Chengyu cherished it all the more.

He Ningqiu, who was standing nearby, witnessed He Ziyu's double standards and was so angry that her blood pressure soared.

After a long pause, he looked at Jiang Chengyu, his bloodless lips trembling slightly: "Then, Brother Yu, let's go together."

Jiang Chengyu remained silent for a moment.

After a short while, he put his schoolbag back on his seat.

"I'll stay and wait for Ayu."

"..."

Not only did they refuse, but they couldn't even come up with a reason?

Just how much does he hate himself?

He Ningqiu pursed her lips, trying to suppress her sadness. "Alright then, I'll go first..."

He told himself he had to be patient.

Once the time is right, He Ziyu will be trampled underfoot and crushed into the ground...

"He Ningqiu".

As soon as he stepped out of the classroom, someone called his name.

He Ningqiu looked in the direction of the sound and her gaze met Lan Yuan, who was walking towards her.

Lan Yuan, who was playing with a basketball, saw him and asked with concern, "Is your stomach still upset?"

He Ningqiu shook her head. "I don't feel bad anymore."

My stomach doesn't hurt anymore, but I feel terrible inside.

The thought of Jiang Chengyu's coldness towards her made He Ningqiu feel extremely wronged.

Lan Yuan noticed He Ningqiu's slightly red eyes and thought he was lying to himself when he said he wasn't in pain, so he simply extended his right hand to him.

He Ningqiu: "?"

Lan Yuan: "Give me your backpack, I'll carry it for you."

He Ningqiu was stunned for a moment, and before she could speak, she suddenly felt a lightness on her shoulder.

Lan Yuan snatched the schoolbag.

"Let's go, I'll take you to the school gate," Lan Yuan said gently, carrying his schoolbag.

He Ningqiu nodded absentmindedly, feeling both touched and a little confused.

In just half a day, the boy offered him help twice. Could it be that he had feelings for him?

He Ningqiu was lost in thought as he walked, and several times he didn't notice people coming from the opposite direction and almost bumped into them. Fortunately, Lan Yuan was quick-witted and helped him avoid them.

The two walked side by side, and when they reached the playground, they instantly attracted a lot of attention.

"Isn't that Lan Yuan? Who's next to him?"

"He Ziyu?"

"Impossible, He Ziyu isn't that thin, he looks like a little chick."

"It doesn't matter who it is, it's a man anyway."

Everyone in the junior high school of No. 8 Middle School knows that Lan Yuan was almost homophobic because He Ziyu was pursuing him so much.

Now, this homophobic guy, Lan, is actually helping another boy carry his schoolbag?

Who wouldn't find this absurd?

"Um, Lan Yuan, you should give my backpack back to me." Feeling a lot of eyes staring at her, He Ningqiu felt a little guilty.

Before coming to the He family, his mother told him that he must not reveal his sexual orientation too early, otherwise his father would be angry.

Therefore, he always kept his words and actions in check, and even though he liked Jiang Chengyu very much, he dared not go too far.

And now, so many people are staring at him for no reason...

He Ningqiu's heart was pounding, afraid that any words that might be detrimental to her would reach her father's ears.

"Why? I don't have any virus on me." Lan Yuan looked straight ahead, his tone nonchalant.

"I...that's not what I meant..." He Ningqiu clutched the hem of her school uniform. "I'm just afraid they...afraid they'll misunderstand..."

Lan Yuan stopped and looked at him with his deep gaze.

"What they think is none of your business!"

"Living isn't about pleasing others."

Upon hearing this, He Ningqiu's breath hitched.

A single sentence is like a stone dropped into a calm lake, creating ripples in one's heart.

From childhood to adulthood, he has always been learning how to please others, to the point of almost forgetting his true self.

Hearing Lan Yuan say this, he felt an urge to cry.

"Thank you." He Ningqiu looked up at the sun, her eyes shining. "Thank you for telling me all this."

Lan Yuan was slightly taken aback, a subtle tremor stirring deep within his heart.

……

"So you mean you not only want to help 'Spark' publish, but also help him set up a comic book studio?"

In the classroom, Jiang Nanqiao sat on her desk, her eyes wide open. "Wow, He Ziyu, you're so cool!"

After school, He Ziyu found Jiang Nanqiao, briefly explained the situation about "Tinder" to her, and invited her to join in the operation of this project.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Nanqiao agreed quite readily.

She said she has loved drawing and reading comics since she was a child, especially BL (Boys' Love) comics.

When they got excited, he even recommended several cars to He Ziyu.

He Ziyu's expression remained calm, but his hands moved as if he were having a cramp, quickly writing down the name of every book she mentioned in his notebook.

"After the studio is established, you'll be my boss. It's not too much for me to call you boss, is it?" Jiang Nanqiao clasped her hands together and blinked her starry eyes at He Ziyu.

"Of course," He Ziyu smiled, "if you don't mind the chuunibyou (adolescent delusions of grandeur) vibe."

Jiang Nanqiao roared in her heart: No problem, of course I don't mind! As long as you become my boss, I can ship you with my partner even more closely. I'll be immersed in honey every day, and my mom won't have to worry about my studies anymore!

The two chatted for a while longer. He Ziyu saw that it was almost time and told Jiang Nanqiao that they should stop here for today. He would notify her as soon as he contacted "Fire Seed".

Jiang Nanqiao nodded vigorously, slung her backpack over her shoulder, and happily walked away.

In an instant, the classroom became empty, leaving only him.

He Ziyu stretched and glanced at the empty seats behind him.

Jiang Chengyu went to the bathroom a dozen minutes ago and hasn't come back yet. Just as I was wondering whether I should go look for him, that handsome figure appeared in front of me.

He Ziyu immediately smiled and said, "Brother Yu, I'm done. Let's go."

"Okay." Jiang Chengyu smiled, slung his backpack over his shoulder, and left the classroom with He Ziyu.

Walking down the street, He Ziyu took out his phone, opened Weibo, and checked if "Fire Seed" had replied to his private message.

When Jiang Chengyu was around, he always habitually didn't look where he was going, subconsciously feeling that as long as Jiang Chengyu was there, he would be absolutely safe.

As they approached the school gate, Jiang Chengyu suddenly tugged at his arm.

Thinking there was someone in front of him, He Ziyu quickly looked up, only to find that there was nothing there.

"Ayu".

"Um?"

He Ziyu turned his head at the sound and met Jiang Chengyu's eyes, which were filled with unspoken thoughts.

Jiang Chengyu hesitated for a moment, but couldn't help asking, "Did you only seek out Jiang Nanqiao to talk about the comics?"

On his way to the restroom, he heard someone mention He Ziyu's name, so he stopped to listen.

Unexpectedly, those people said that Jiang Nanqiao confessed her feelings to He Ziyu during break time, and He Ziyu even accepted her?