Forcing Me to Be Reborn?!

In the end, Shen Qingning did not accept Lin Lu's invitation to stay over and drove back to her own home.

Around ten o'clock in the evening, due to the bar's business being lackluster, Shen Ming Lang, who was bored to death, began to actively send out messages in the group: "Little brothers and sisters, did everyone get home safe?"

Jiang Wanzhou, who loved to tease him, replied directly, "It's been more than an hour and you're just asking, you're really caring, aren't you? I'm almost back to Shanghai."

Cheng Zhu looked at WeChat and cracked a smile.

An active atmosphere in a group is important, thankfully there was their "atmosphere team"—there was no need for him to personally stir up the mood.

Lin Lu, being more lively by nature and not as reserved as Shen Qingning, would surely join in the group chat.

Everything went as Cheng Zhu had expected.

And so, everyone chatted in the group, laughing and joking, in a sporadic conversation that lasted over an hour.

"As a reborn, one must be a step ahead in everything." This was Cheng Zhu's personal demand for himself.

"College sure takes many years to complete."

And just like that, even before the semester had started, he'd taken a step ahead in making contact with beautiful upperclasswomen.

Of course, he also kept repeatedly reminding himself, "Don't be misled by Lin Lu's cute appearance!"

"Who would have thought that such a sweet appearance could hide a terribly... colossal figure!"

Men are such a peculiar species—they might get dizzy from naked-eye 3D, but never from a 36D.

"I'm still in my teenage growth spurt, I can't wean off during my four years of college."

...

...

On days filled with chatting, time always flies by fast.

Shen Ming Lang had no idea that his new "cousin" was not only interacting with him in the group chat, but also chatting with his employee, the bartender Ye Zi, every day.

Through Ye Zi's mouth, Cheng Zhu had found out that Jiuyin wasn't doing well in business, having gone downhill since the World Cup ended.

As a bartender earning commission, Ye Zi was also feeling financial pressure.

She had been hinting both overtly and covertly to Cheng Zhu—I really need money, I want to earn money.

Cheng Zhu was well aware that many girls working nightlife were burdened with loans.

As for why such young girls had loans, there were plenty of reasons.

"Like getting plastic surgery or breast augmentation," he thought.

Men might not understand—are there really so many of these people?

In fact, there are indeed many, and the loan-for-cosmetic-surgery had even formed an industry chain.

"Speaking of which, when a woman is willing to reveal her needs to you in a conversation, it's actually a good sign," Cheng Zhu thought to himself.

But he had no extra thoughts about Ye Zi, and certainly wouldn't waste money on her; he needed his money to make more money.

However, Cheng Zhu was happy to see her short on cash.

You see, if you want to do e-commerce, you definitely need to take product photos.

In the clothing industry, this means you need models.

"Come to think of it, Ye Zi is quite suitable." Cheng Zhu was no longer satisfied with just having her take buyer show photos for him.

—Man, thy name is Greed!

Of course, if Ye Zi isn't willing to take the job, it's fine too—she has plenty of resources and could definitely introduce him to suitable candidates.

"Our QQ-like products are hard to find models for, and they charge more than the regular apparel products."

"But it's just taking some photos, and the pictures can be Photoshopped; it doesn't matter if they're professional or not."

"Damn it, shouldn't have gone through the official channels, it's just a waste of money."

The way he was doing it now was just fine.

Putting his phone into his pocket, Cheng Zhu was ready to head to Yunlai Restaurant.

It wasn't mealtime yet; he wasn't going to eat, but to accompany Little Youzi to watch "Balala the Fairies."

"Damn, that cliffhanger in yesterday's episode was so abrupt!" he cursed inwardly.

On his way there, he felt that this summer was freaking hot! Just a few steps made him sweat profusely.

When he arrived at the restaurant, he was stunned.

It wasn't even mealtime yet, and Old Cheng wasn't busy in the kitchen, but was sitting on a dining chair, digging into a half-frozen watermelon with a spoon.

He and Xu Yun, who had been husband and wife for years, were feeding each other bites, disgustingly sweet.

"Damn it, eating watermelon and not calling me?" Cheng Zhu roared inwardly.

A summer without chilled watermelon is incomplete.

And their whole family believed that the best way to eat watermelon was to dig it with a spoon.

Of course, Cheng Zhu was used to not being called by his parents to eat watermelon.

He had mentioned many times that Little Youzi was raised like a princess, and at most, Cheng Zhu was just a knife-wielding royal guard.

What's up, cap'n of the security, got a problem?

Old Cheng and Xu Yun saw their son walk into the restaurant but didn't bother to look up.

Cheng Zhu naturally turned his gaze to his sister.

Little Youzi was sitting cross-legged on the chair, propping half a watermelon on her tender legs, while scooping it vigorously with a big spoon, and placing the scooped chunks into a large bowl.

When she saw Cheng Zhu arrive, she immediately put the watermelon that was propped up onto the table, then raised the big bowl above her head with both hands, and even added her own sound effects: "Ding!"

"Brother, you're here! Watermelon for you, I've been scooping it for a long time!"

Cheng Zhu's status in his family was indeed the lowest of the low, but sometimes he had such privileges—

—Privileges granted by Princess Little Youzi.

He glanced at the half-watermelon on the table and thought, "She scooped out the middle part, the sweetest bit."

Cheng Zhu did not refuse and really started eating the portions in the bowl, ignoring the remaining bits in the halved watermelon.

He was very clear—do not reject children's kindness; she's young and doesn't understand you're doing it for her good, she would just be secretly heartbroken.

With the chilled watermelon going down his throat, Cheng Zhu looked at the blazing sun outside and suddenly felt this summer season wasn't so hot after all.

He had been thinking that going to Guan Yun County to find supplies in such weather was simply an impossible task.

Now he figured it wasn't so bad; he could simply eat some chilled watermelon again when he got home.

The TV began airing "Balala the Fairies" again.

Every time the fairies transformed, Little Youzi would excitedly stand up and dance around, as if she herself could transform.

Cheng Zhu, with his delinquent-face that was 1.82 meters tall, would loudly voice-dub for his sister: "Balala Energy! Shala Shala, little fairy, transform!"

Old Cheng and Xu Yun watched their silly son in shock, murmuring softly, "He didn't use to be like this, did he?"

Little did they know, Cheng Zhu couldn't care less about other people's gazes, he only cared about whether Little Youzi's smile was brilliant or not.

...

...

At night, after Cheng Zhu got home, he sent a WeChat message to Wang Anquan.

"Tomorrow we set off for Guan Yun."

"Roger that!" Wang Anquan replied instantly, full of anticipation.

After all, Brother Zhu had said, it was a paradise for men.

That night, Wang Anquan, a strong-bodied youngster with some acne on his face, struggled to sleep and even had a series of wild dreams when he finally dozed off.

The next day, in the scorching summer heat, the two young men, with their luggage, boarded a high-speed train.

Just after sitting down, Cheng Zhu saw Wang Anquan happily typing on his phone, his grin almost reaching his ears.

"Who are you chatting with that's making you so happy?" Cheng Zhu frowned, already having a suspicion.

"With Rongrong ah, Brother Zhu, I feel like I might start dating Chen Rongrong," Wang Anquan said.

"Heh, did you install a GPS? Do you know your positioning?" Cheng Zhu laughed.

"Brother Zhu, what do you mean? I didn't quite catch that," said a puzzled Wang Anquan.

"It doesn't matter. I'm just asking, what made you feel this way?"

"We've been getting along really well these past few days. She wouldn't usually initiate conversation with me, but these days she always reaches out, and she just asked if I got on the train yet. Hehe." His smile grew wider, and he was already feeling sweet.

"Didn't you tell me a few days ago that Chen Rongrong was hot and cold towards you, sometimes engaging in pleasant conversation and sometimes not replying to your messages for long periods?"

"Well... it was a bit like that." Wang Anquan admitted.

Gazing out the window, with a light tone but words that heavily struck Wang Anquan's heart, Cheng Zhu said:

"You know, when you're taking a shower and the water temperature suddenly changes from hot to cold, you know someone else has started using the water supply."