Only After I Was Reborn Did I Realize That I Had Childhood Sweethearts

Xiang Bingbing's home was actually located in the town rather than the village, but the overall layout of Shennongjia's towns still felt somewhat rural.

That said, compared to other houses, the Xiang family's home could be considered quite grand. The house was spacious and bright, with a high ceiling between the first and second floors. However, the furnishings inside were sparse, making it feel a bit empty.

Xiang Bingbing's younger sister, Xiang Taotao, was clearly a reliable and sensible sweetheart. Once her older sister dashed off, she immediately took over hosting duties, serving tea, water, and cut fruit with great enthusiasm.

The twin brothers, drawn by the remote-controlled car Mei Fang had bought, ran outside to play with it. At their age, kids were at that universally annoying stage, so no one paid them much attention.

Meanwhile, the adorable kindergarten-aged little sister, Xiang Guoguo, played the role of the mascot, surrounded by the girls as they fussed over her.

"Guoguo, how old are you this year?"

"I'm… um… six!"

"Who's your favorite family member?"

"My favorite is… Taotao jiejie!"

"Because Bingbing jiejie… Bingbing jiejie never plays with me. She only comes home once in a long while."

"Bingbing jiejie is studying hard to make money! See, she bought you this doll, didn't she?"

"Mmm… that's true."

Guoguo's sweet, childish voice charmed Xia Yuan, who happily played with her. Mei Fang watched with amusement, while Lin Youxi nudged his shoulder and teased:

"Not satisfied with staring at Yuan Yuan all the time? Now you're ogling other little girls too?"

"It's not just that. Don't you think Bingbing's little sister looks a lot like Yuan Yuan when she was a kid? Those chubby cheeks are just too adorable."

"You still remember what Yuan Yuan looked like as a child that clearly?"

"Of course… She was the cutest back then."

Lin Youxi leaned in and whispered in Mei Fang's ear, "Since you love Yuan Yuan's childhood appearance so much, how about letting her give you a few daughters later…"

Mei Fang chuckled and shook his head, whispering back:

"Don't just pin it all on Yuan Yuan. Little Youxi was adorable too."

Lin Youxi smirked. "With snot dripping down her face and always dirty?That'sadorable?"

"I liked it! And besides, little Youxi would have two stylish, doting moms to pamper her. She'd definitely grow into an incredibly cute little girl."

"Wishful thinking."

As Lin Youxi and Mei Fang flirted, Xiang Bingbing's voice suddenly came from outside.

"I'm back."

"Bingbing, how did it go?"

The usually cheerful and carefree Xiang Bingbing was now devoid of her earlier enthusiasm. Still, under Xia Yuan's concerned gaze, she forced a bright smile. "Let's not talk about that now. Let's eat first! Try some authentic Shennongjia home cooking!"

"Come, come, kids! Dig in! Try our braised pork trotters and smoked bacon—they're delicious!"

"Wow, it smells amazing!"

Bingbing's mom had prepared a lavish spread without a hint of exhaustion. Everyone gathered around the table, and Bingbing took the opportunity to introduce her friends properly, especially Mei Fang.

"This is Ah Fang, the one I always talk about. He was my desk mate for three years in high school and helped me a ton—especially when I was injured and isolated at school. He and his friends were there for me."

"So you're Mei Fang… What a fine young man! I heard Bingbing's sports career at school was all thanks to you?"

"I didn't do much, just looked up some info and connected her with the right teachers…"

Mei Fang scratched his head. "Bingbing's really talented in sports, especially basketball. It'd be a waste not to let her shine."

Xiang Bingbing seemed lost in thought at these words. Lin Youxi noticed her melancholy and exchanged a glance with Xia Yuan.

After the meal, everyone helped Bingbing's mom clean up. Noticing Xiang Taotao packing food, Mei Fang asked, "Is that for your dad?"

At the dinner table, Xiang Bingbing and the others hadn't revealed their identities, but Taotao, a CStation viewer who'd confirmed their status with her sister, knew exactly who these three were.

However, unlike her cheerful and energetic sister, Taotao was naturally shy and reserved, so she didn't act like an overexcited fan. She just nodded slightly.

"Then you stay and rest. We'll deliver it for you."

"You… you might get lost. I should take you."

"No need. Your sister can guide us."

Mei Fang patted Taotao's head affectionately—he had a soft spot for well-behaved, obedient girls, seeing them as ideal future employees.

"You've been helping your mom all day. You must be exhausted, right?"

"It's… it's okay. We're used to it."

Taotao glanced at her sister's despondent expression and whispered to Mei Fang, "Jiejie and Rou Rou jiejie grew up together. Now that Rou Rou jiejie can't go to college and is getting married instead, she must be really sad."

"I know. We've all noticed."

Mei Fang nodded. "We want to talk to Bingbing about it and see if there's any way we can help."

"Th-Thank you! Station Head gege is so kind… Ah, I mean—"

Taotao blushed, realizing she'd slipped up. Mei Fang laughed. "Oh, so you watch CStation too?"

"Y-Yes…"

Taotao scratched her head. "I love watching videos there! The community is so nice and friendly!"

"Glad you like it. Next time, I'll send you some CStation merch. Any particular mascot you'd like?"

"If possible… I'd love a Little TV! It's so cute!"

After chatting with Taotao and taking the lunchbox from her, Mei Fang noticed Xia Yuan and Lin Youxi staring at him with complicated expressions.

"What?"

"I feel like Ah Fang is always extra nice to little girls."

"Because Ah Fang's a daughter-con. Just now, he was imagining Yuan Yuan giving birth to a daughter for him while looking at Guoguo."

Xia Yuan had meant to tease Mei Fang, but Lin Youxi's bombshell left her stunned. "R-Really?!"

"I never said ithadto be a daughter!"

Lin Youxi quickly added, "So that means he'd be happy with any child Yuan Yuan gives him."

"W-Who's in such a hurry?! You!"

Xia Yuan whacked Mei Fang a few times. As they horsed around, Xiang Bingbing finished packing and walked over.

"Taotao said you wanted to deliver lunch to my dad? I can take you to the forest reserve. We'll hitch a ride—it's about 20 minutes away. Youxi, will you be okay?"

Lin Youxi smiled and shook her head. "I'm fine now. More importantly, what did your friend Xiao Ran say?"

"I'll explain on the way…"

On the town bus, Xiang Bingbing filled her friends in on her childhood friend's situation.

"She told me she dropped out voluntarily, that she couldn't keep up with school… She also said her fiancé seems like a decent guy… I tried to persuade her, but Xiao Ran didn't seem interested. She used to dream of leaving our hometown and seeing the world. Now it's like she's a completely different person… I don't know. It just makes me so sad."

The usually upbeat Xiang Bingbing sighed repeatedly on the bus, her gloomy expression worrying everyone.

Guo Yun tried to console her. "You've spent less time together these past three years. It's normal for friends to change… But I think you should talk to her more. You didn't get to chat for long, right?"

Lin Youxi asked, "Is Xiao Ran's family the type to favor sons over daughters? Does her dad not support her education?"

"That mindset exists here, but Xiao Ran insisted it was her choice… I can't just—"

"So we need to confirm whether it's truly her choice."

Mei Fang interjected. "Everyone has their own path, but if a friend makes a rash decision they'll regret for life, those around them will feel that regret too."

"Ah Fang's right. We should figure out if Xiao Ran genuinely doesn't want to study and prefers marriage. But first, we need to understand your childhood friend better. What was she like before?"

"Pretty quiet…"

Xiang Bingbing thought for a moment, then glanced at Liu Xiaoyu. "Kind of like Xiaoyu, but more timid."

Liu Xiaoyu looked torn between laughter and tears. "So in your eyes, I'mthattimid?"

"She was the type who… Well, let's just say she wasn't your typical Shennongjia girl. She'd scream at the sight of mice or spiders, hide indoors if wild boars roamed the streets. Once, when rumors spread about a wolf in town, she skipped school for a whole day, too scared to leave the house.Iwas the one who found that wolf in the end."

Liu Xiaoyu shuddered. "I think… maybeyou'rejust too brave!"

"Exactly!" Xia Yuan nodded vigorously.

"But overall, she was really sweet. When we were kids, I loved running around in sneakers but never learned to tie them properly—Xiao Ran always did it for me. She started learning to cook really young too. Her dishes were amazing…"

As Xiang Bingbing reminisced, Xia Yuan and Mei Fang couldn't help but smile at Lin Youxi, who cleared her throat and said:

"If she's such a close friend, you really should get to the bottom of this."

Mei Fang thought for a moment. "Just talking about her might not help. She's only just engaged, right? Surely she won't marry before turning 20?"

"She started school late. She'll be 20 in two months. But around here, people don't fuss over such things… So we should act fast."

Lin Youxi suggested, "Why not invite Xiao Ran to join us? Chatting in a relaxed setting might help her open up about her true feelings."

Xiang Bingbing's eyes lit up at the idea. She grabbed Lin Youxi's hands excitedly. "Yes! That's perfect! If she spends time with us, she might feel like her old self again and finally tell me what's really going on. I'll bring her along!"

She was about to ask the bus driver to make an unscheduled stop when Mei Fang and the others stopped her. "Hey! You still have to deliver lunch to your dad!"

The bus dropped them off near the forest reserve. Mei Fang's group followed Xiang Bingbing along a paved road until they reached a modest wooden cabin.

Being a forest ranger was an incredibly tough job, requiring them to stay in the reserve for over seven months a year, on call 24/7. This was where Xiang Bingbing's father lived. When the towering, burly man—standing at 1.9 meters tall—appeared before them, it became instantly clear where Bingbing got her genes.

"Hello, Uncle!"

Mei Fang and the others greeted him. Surprised to see his daughter's classmates, Xiang Bingbing's dad quickly welcomed them with a smile. "Hello, hello! Come on in and sit."

They entered the small cabin, seating themselves on log stools. The interior was simple: a desk, a dining table, a small TV, a bed, a basic stove, and a wardrobe. Faded clocks and mirrors hung on the walls alongside portraits of great leaders.

Uncle Xiang poured tea for everyone and said warmly, "There's not much here to entertain you with. Make yourselves at home."

"Don't worry, Uncle! We're just here to deliver your meal."

As Mei Fang responded, Xia Yuan tugged at his sleeve, drawing his attention to the hunting rifle leaning against the wall.

Forest rangers were legally permitted to carry firearms to protect themselves against ruthless poachers. But since it was their first time seeing a real gun, everyone couldn't help but feel a bit nervous.

Uncle Xiang led a frugal, solitary life, with only a loyal Chinese rural dog named Da Huang for company. Years of isolation had made him a man of few words. As Bingbing chattered away, he listened while eating, then sighed when she brought up Xiao Ran's impending marriage.

"That girl's still so young. There's no need to marry so soon… She should see more of the world first."

He suddenly remembered something. "Actually, earlier this year, Xiao Ran and Taotao came to deliver food. She asked me what qualifications were needed to become a forest ranger… I laughed and said someone as scared of animals as her would never want to live in the mountains forever. She just smiled and didn't say anything. Maybe she was already thinking of other plans back then…"

Xiang Bingbing pondered this. "Dad, I'm thinking of taking my friends and Xiao Ran camping tomorrow! What do you think?"

"Sounds great! Didn't you bring your friends here to have fun?" Uncle Xiang smiled. "Take them to see the golden snub-nosed monkeys at Giant Dragon Pool."

"Ugh, golden monkeys are so boring. I've seen them a million times! I'd rather look for the donkey-headed wolf or Bigfoot!"

Her dad scolded her. "Stop believing in those wild rumors! I've been up here for decades and never seen any of those things. Stick to the tourist areas—no shortcuts!"

After a moment's thought, he added, "Jiulong Lake is crowded these days. Enter the scenic area from the north side."

"Got it, got it! Can I drive the family's Jinbei minivan up the mountain?"

"Not a chance! You don't even have a license yet. Let your mom drive—she's delivering supplies tomorrow anyway."

With their camping trip to the vast Shennongjia Forest Reserve planned, the group would spend the next few days exploring the boundless beauty of the "Roof of Central China."