Stepping back into the familiar yet strangely distant campus, the sight of its iconic landmarks slowly jogged Chen Hansheng's memory.
Along the way, he ran into many classmates. Sometimes, he felt like greeting them, only to realize he couldn't recall their names.
However, he *did* remember Xiao Rongyu and the guy who had just tried to show off in front of her.
Xiao Rongyu was said to be the most beautiful girl in the decades-long history of Gangcheng No. 1 High School. Last night, at their senior-year class reunion, Chen Hansheng had drunkenly confessed his feelings to her—and, predictably, was rejected.
Her reasons hadn't changed over the years. Back in middle school, she'd said she wouldn't date in junior high. In high school, she insisted she wouldn't date until after graduation. And now that they'd finally graduated, she'd switched to "not dating until after college."
Gangcheng was a small place, where everyone seemed connected in some way. Chen Hansheng's mother knew Xiao Rongyu's mother, though the latter's family was slightly better off—her father worked at the Public Security Bureau, and her mother was employed at the Power Supply Bureau.
Of course, Chen Hansheng was far from being a loser. He wasn't a top student, but his grades were decent. Tall and athletic, he had an outgoing personality and had even gotten into fights with local troublemakers outside school. His family wasn't wealthy, but they were comfortably middle-class—both his parents were civil servants, so he'd never had to worry about tuition.
By all logic, someone like him had no real need to be *reborn*. Why had fate chosen him? Was it punishment for drunk driving?
But as the saying goes: *The years between eight and eighteen span a decade, but the years between eighteen and twenty-eight span a lifetime.* Even if he'd continued his life as usual, Chen Hansheng would've eventually become a successful entrepreneur worth hundreds of millions. But with a little extra effort, he could add a few more zeros to his net worth—and maybe even alter the course of history.
As for the guy who'd just tried to show off at his expense—that was Gao Jialiang. His father was a real estate developer in Gangcheng, though his business was always fluctuating between profit and loss.
At a class reunion over a decade later in his past life, Gao Jialiang had toasted Chen Hansheng with his glass held respectfully lower—a sign of deference.
---
**"Old Xu, where's my admission letter?"**
Chen Hansheng strode into the teachers' office and called out to a balding middle-aged man.
Old Xu—Xu Wen—had been Chen Hansheng's homeroom teacher in high school. They'd gotten along well, sometimes even joking around like brothers. Back when Chen Hansheng had just started working, he'd made time to visit Xu whenever he returned home. But as life got busier, those visits became fewer.
Later, Old Xu had passed away from lung cancer. At the time, Chen Hansheng had been overseas and could only send condolences through someone else—he hadn't even been able to attend the funeral.
So, for the *real* Chen Hansheng, this was a reunion after a lifetime of separation. He couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.
Old Xu turned around, saw Chen Hansheng, and grinned as he pulled out an envelope from a stack of admission letters.
*"I really thought you'd make it into a Tier 1 university,"* he said, a hint of regret in his voice.
Students like Chen Hansheng—those who rarely caused trouble, were physically capable, and occasionally contributed to the class—weren't teachers' favorites, but they weren't disliked either.
Chen Hansheng took the letter with a shrug. *"A Tier 2 school is fine. It's about what I deserve."*
Wang Zibo, on the other hand, was far more respectful. *"Hello, Teacher Xu. I'm here for my admission letter."*
While Old Xu searched for Wang's letter, Chen Hansheng glanced around the desk and spotted a pack of *Hong Jinling* cigarettes—a popular, budget-friendly brand in Jiangsu Province. His own father smoked the same kind.
*"Old Xu, you should cut back on these,"* Chen Hansheng said, picking up the pack. *"Teaching senior year is stressful enough. Smoking on top of that isn't doing your health any favors."*
Xu Wen blinked in surprise. Most students collecting their admission letters would say polite things like *"Thank you"* or empty promises like *"I'll visit you more often."* But Chen Hansheng's warning sounded genuinely concerned, as if he were an old friend who hadn't seen him in years.
It warmed Xu's heart. Teachers lived modest lives—*"a piece of chalk, two sleeves brushed by wind, three feet of podium, four seasons of toil."* They didn't necessarily expect to *"have students all over the world,"* but sincere care from a former student was deeply touching.
Xu Wen suddenly felt he hadn't paid enough attention to Chen Hansheng back then. *"I'll smoke less from now on,"* he promised readily.
*"Words are cheap."*
Chen Hansheng pocketed the cigarettes. *"Consider this me doing you a favor. Confiscated."*
Old Xu didn't know whether to laugh or scold. Instead of receiving a fruit basket from this kid, he'd *lost* a pack of cigarettes. Still, he preferred this kind of easygoing dynamic. Wang Zibo's excessive formality just made things awkward.
The office wasn't empty—other teachers and students were present, including the group that had arrived earlier on bikes. When Gao Jialiang saw Chen Hansheng swipe the cigarettes, he sneered.
*"People like him getting into college just drags down the average quality of university students."*
A girl immediately retorted, *"Chen Hansheng's grades were decent! Maybe he's smoking because…"*
She trailed off, realizing she'd been about to say *"because he got rejected by Xiao Rongyu."* But the girl in question was standing right there.
Gao Jialiang scowled. *"He was always trouble. Even fought with those delinquents outside school."*
Just as he was about to continue badmouthing Chen Hansheng, the latter walked over. *"Oh, you're all here."*
Gao Jialiang turned away, ignoring him. Chen Hansheng just greeted the others instead. Noticing the envelope in Xiao Rongyu's hand, he grinned.
*"Which school are you going to?"*
*"Donghai University,"* she answered, then asked, *"What about you?"*
*"Well, isn't that a coincidence? I'm at the Finance College right across from you. Guess we're neighbors now—we'll have to visit each other often."*
Chen Hansheng hadn't expected Xiao Rongyu to end up at a school so close to his. Looking back, it was almost a shame—once he'd started college, he'd let loose, surrounded by plenty of pretty girls at the Finance College, and completely forgotten about the stunning beauty right across the street.
Gao Jialiang scoffed. *"Donghai University is a 985 elite school. The Finance College is just some Tier 2 institution. Calling yourselves 'neighbors' is a stretch."*
Gao Jialiang was also heading to Jianye for school—he'd gotten into the first-tier Aeronautics and Astronautics Institute, though his campus was hours away from Xiao Rongyu's. His jealousy and resentment were plain on his face.
Chen Hansheng smirked inwardly. *Keep running your mouth. I might just end up dating Xiao Rongyu and make you all cry.*
His eyes fell on the Siemens mechanical watch on Xiao Rongyu's wrist. *"What time is it?"* he asked casually.
Xiao Rongyu instinctively lifted her wrist. *"5:25."*
*"Nice watch. Did you just get it this summer?"*
Before she could react, Chen Hansheng grabbed her hand, pretending to check the time while subtly tracing his fingers over her smooth skin.
Gao Jialiang looked ready to explode. *"This b*st*rd! Last night he *talked*, and now he's going straight to *touching*?!"*
Xiao Rongyu yanked her hand back, glaring at him furiously.
Chen Hansheng, having gotten what he wanted, didn't linger. He called out to Wang Zibo, and the two left, leaving the others staring in shock.
At exactly 5:30, the school speakers crackled to life. Perhaps because it was admission-letter day, the radio station played Xu Wei's *"Blue Lotus."*
>*Nothing can hold you back,*
>*From chasing your freedom.*
>*A life unrestrained,*
>*Your heart without chains...*
>
>*The eternal blossom,*
>*Blue lotus...*
The campus was still bustling with second-year students attending summer classes. Walking among the crowd, surrounded by youthful faces, listening to the soothing folk melody, breathing in the fresh air—Chen Hansheng felt invigorated.
*"High school really was the best. Too bad I've already graduated."*