Who Would Fall in Love After Being Reborn?

TL: Etude

As the Spring Festival approached, another snowfall came in the twelfth lunar month.

Outside the window, snowflakes danced and fluttered down, covering the world in a matter of hours with a blanket of white. The red lanterns hung by the municipal department added a charming touch to the snowscape.

Recently, Jiang Qin had been constantly accompanying a little rich lady and felt a bit weary. So, he wrapped himself in his quilt, intending to get some extra sleep.

However, before he could drift off to dreamland, his parents dragged him out of bed for a thorough house cleaning to welcome the New Year.

Jiang Qin was responsible for tidying up the living room, while his father, Jiang Zhenghong, took on the bedrooms and bathrooms.

Mrs. Yuan Youqin, his mother, had her task cut out for her too: preparing dumplings for the family from New Year’s Eve to the second day of the lunar year.

“Jiang Qin, after you start your semester, find me a daughter-in-law quickly, so I don’t have to make dumplings alone till it gets dark,” she lamented.

“Why bother? How about this: I’ll tighten my belt and eat less,” Jiang Qin replied, quick-witted as always.

Mrs. Yuan Youqin, frustrated, waved her rolling pin, “You better not eat at all!”

“Why are you getting angry? I’m only eighteen, isn’t it too early to rush me?” he protested.

“I don’t care; I want a daughter-in-law. Every year, I have to prepare dumplings for the entire family, enough for three days. Do you think it’s easy?”

In Jizhou, there’s a custom of not using knives from New Year’s Eve to the third day of the lunar year, making dumplings both a staple and a necessity during this time.

For families with many members, just making dumplings could take a whole day.

Mrs. Yuan Youqin, year after year, longed for a daughter-in-law, especially during these times. When Jiang Qin was in high school, the idea seemed unrealistic, but now that he was in university, she increasingly wished for someone to share the task of dumpling-making or at least keep her company.

Jiang Qin pursed his lips, focused on his cleaning, making the floor spotless, but deliberately avoided the topic to prevent further trouble.

Just then, there was a knock at the door. Their neighbor from across the hall came to visit, cradling a chubby baby, all smiles.

“Oh, Youqin, making dumplings alone?”

“Sister Li, what brings you here?”

“My grandson is crying at home, so I had to take him out for a walk. He stops crying when he sees people.”

Neighbor Auntie Li cooed and played with her grandson, who laughed heartily, drooling from the corners of his mouth.

Seeing this, Mrs. Yuan Youqin felt a mix of emotions and repeatedly glared at Jiang Qin.

Jiang Qin immediately understood. No wonder his mother constantly talked about wanting a daughter-in-law; the root of it all was their neighbor.

After all, with his mother’s temperament, being frequently shown off by the neighbor must have irked her, explaining her urgency for him to start dating since his first year in university.

“Jiang Qin, didn’t bring a girlfriend home for the New Year?”

“No, Auntie Li, I’m not good with words and haven’t found one,” Jiang Qin modestly replied.

Auntie Li grimaced, “You go to school and still don’t bring back a wife. Your mom has to make dumplings alone every New Year, how tiring.”

“But I think my mom deserves a peaceful year after working hard. Bringing home someone troublesome is worse than being alone, right?”

“…”

Everyone in their building knew about Auntie Li’s constant clashes with her daughter-in-law. Even trivial matters could spark all-night arguments. But having recently had a grandson, Auntie Li dared not say much and had been holding in her frustrations, almost to the point of illness.

Jiang Qin’s remark hit right at the heart of the matter.

Hence, Auntie Li left soon after with a forced smile, leaving behind Jiang Qin, who couldn’t hide his amusement.

“A daughter-in-law like yours, Auntie Li, is indeed a formidable character, arguing without repeating a word. I have to find someone gentler; my mom isn’t good at arguing.”

Mrs. Yuan Youqin locked the door and couldn’t help but say, “Without a daughter-in-law, there’d be no arguments, solving all problems at the root!”

Jiang Qin, leaning on his mop, responded.

“Jiang Qin, if you talk nonsense again, you’ll be spending New Year’s on the streets.”

Mrs. Yuan Youqin detested such inauspicious talk, especially during the New Year.

“Relax, Mom, there definitely won’t be any arguments.”

Jiang Qin casually responded, feeling inexplicably confident for some reason.

In the blink of an eye, the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month arrived.

The temple fair was drawing to a close, and the sheep soup restaurant’s business was thriving. Many customers, after enjoying their meal, took a second look at the advertisement board to find a branch closer to their homes.

As the old saying goes, “Even the best wine needs a bush,” and this bustling event had indeed helped spread the word.

Jiang Qin had only visited the fair on the first day and didn’t return in the following days.

After all, attracting customers depended on the taste, not who was watching the stall. He wasn’t a human billboard, and his presence or absence made little difference.

Without his uncle and aunt’s support, Yang Shu’an found the temple fair less enjoyable than on the first day.

But he wasn’t bored, as many old classmates specifically came to his stall to drink sheep soup and pretended to casually inquire if Jiang Qin and Feng Nanshu were dating.

Yang Shu’an remarked, “I’ve even taken my New Year’s money; how could it not be true?”

Thus, with eyewitnesses and testimonies, the rumor turned into a confirmed fact, causing a major stir in their high school circle.

The aloof moonlight of Chengnan High School, that radiant and celestial girl, was truly in love.

Thinking of this, many were left sleepless at night, with some even changing their QQ Space background music to Ado’s “He Must Really Love You.”

“I should be under the car, not in it, seeing how sweet you two are.”

Yang Shu’an took out his phone to update Jiang Qin on the day’s casualties.

“Uncle, today another seven or eight people came, asking if you and Auntie are in love.”

Jiang Qin, who was at the Jizhou Library accompanying the little rich lady, casually glanced at his phone and couldn’t help but look up at her.

In high school, he hadn’t seen many people flocking around Feng Nanshu.

But it wasn’t because she wasn’t popular; it was because she was too unapproachable.

Seeing numerous boys in their online spaces lamenting their shattered dreams, Jiang Qin became even more aware of how sacred and perfect the name Feng Nanshu was to the boys of Chengnan, and of the little rich lady’s immense charm.

Perhaps in everyone’s heart, no one was worthy of such a girl.

Jiang Qin peeled a pistachio and fed it to the little rich lady, accidentally touching her lips with his fingertips.

“Jiang Qin, feed me more,” Feng Nanshu opened her mouth, waiting for him to feed her.

“Just one more, and that’s it. My hands are sore from peeling.”

“Three more, please.”

Jiang Qin, feeling helpless, peeled three more and fed them to her, then gently wiped the corner of her mouth.

Afterward, most small shops in Jizhou began to close for the holiday, leaving only the markets in the towns and the big malls holding events to become increasingly bustling.

Promotion cars decorated with colorful balloons ran back and forth on the main streets, playing advertisements for various discounts and attracting a lot of people.

On the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, watching the promotion cars outside the window, Jiang Qin spontaneously decided to go shopping with the little rich lady, buying a bunch of New Year goods.

There were gifts for his parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins.

After much picking and choosing, two small carts were gradually filled.

Coincidentally, on their way to the checkout, Jiang Qin ran into Chu Siqi and Wang Huiru.

In a small place like Jizhou, running into old classmates in the only big mall wasn’t surprising.

The four exchanged glances, the atmosphere a bit awkward, until Wang Huiru broke the ice with a “long time no see.”

“There’s a class reunion on the sixth day of the New Year, Jiang Qin, do you want to go?”

“I’ll see, if I can make it, I’ll go.”

“Okay then.”

“Mhm.”

Jiang Qin, accompanied by Feng Nanshu, headed towards the checkout counter. After walking a few steps, the little rich lady slipped her hand into his pocket.

Wang Huiru observed this scene with some emotion.

Feng Nanshu was incredibly beautiful, her delicate features flawless.

And Jiang Qin was equally dazzling, making a perfect match as they walked together.

Thinking this, Wang Huiru couldn’t help but glance back at Chu Siqi and noticed her best friend staring blankly at the couple, a hint of disbelief in her eyes.

Thinking Chu Siqi was upset again, Wang Huiru was about to offer some words of comfort when she saw Chu Siqi pull out a milk tea card from her bag, shakily holding it up for comparison with the silhouette on the card and the couple’s departing figures.

“So the two people on this milk tea card are them…”

Wang Huiru was also surprised, “Really? What’s going on?”

Chu Siqi shook her head, clutching the milk tea card, her expression indescribably complex.

Everyone at Linchuan University knew that Xi Tian and Zhihu were strategic partners, but not many knew that the owner of this milk tea shop was Feng Nanshu.

Why? Because it was a business secret.

If this fact became public, wouldn’t it expose the initial hype and advertising expenses?

Everyone knew Feng Nanshu was the recognized boss lady of 208, and using the boss lady’s tea shop to hype the boss’s advertising fees would be just self-promotion.

So, Chu Siqi hadn’t pondered over who the characters on the card were, just feeling that the image of two people under a tree on the card was very appealing.

But it was only at that moment, seeing Feng Nanshu and Jiang Qin walking side by side, that she realized the significance of the pattern on the milk tea card.

Jiang Qin’s affections had been secretly shining bright, known to all.

Such romance was something only he could achieve.

What exactly… did I miss?

Chu Siqi’s face turned pale, the vast emptiness in her heart growing even more profound.

AN: Brothers, can we break into the top twenty with our monthly tickets?

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