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

After parting ways with Zhang Ming, Mei Fang naturally went to meet his childhood sweethearts for lunch. The trio had agreed to gather at the entrance of the North District cafeteria. By the time Mei Fang arrived, Xia Yuan was already waiting there, head bowed as she giggled at her phone.

Instead of calling out to her directly, Mei Fang crept up behind her and peeked over her shoulder.

"Who's got you smiling like that?"

"Wah—!"

Xia Yuan nearly jumped out of her skin, almost reflexively swatting Mei Fang.

"Ah! Ah Fang, don't scare me like that!"

"Who are you chatting with? I'm curious."

Mei Fang leaned in, tilting his head playfully. "Could it be… a boy?"

"Are youjealous?"

"Let's not talk about that…"

Mei Fang draped an arm over Xia Yuan's shoulders, trying to sneak a glance at her phone. "So, is it really a guy?"

"Of course not! It's Bingbing and Xiaoyu."

Xia Yuan tilted her head, bemused. "Ah Fang, why do you have so little faith in us? We've barely been apart at school for any time at all. Are you worried I'd go looking elsewhere?"

"Well, childhood sweetheartsarefamously prone to losing out to new encounters. That's why I've been working so hard all this time."

Xia Yuan blinked in surprise. "You mean… all your efforts were because you were afraid Youxi and I would leave you if you weren't good enough?"

"I wouldn't say it's theonlyreason… but it's part of it, yeah."

"Ahhh… Ah Fang, youidiot!"

Xia Yuan suddenly looked furious, raining down a flurry of light punches on him. "I'vealways felt like I wasn't as good as you and Youxi! That's whyIpushed myself so hard—studying, gaming, biking, rollerblading—it's all becauseyouset the bar too high! My childhood could've been so much more carefree!"

"Okay, okay… I'm sorry… But you and Youxi arebeautiful! Of course people would eye you. If I weren't outstanding, everyone would say I'm not good enough for you and try to steal you away. But if I'mthisgood, who'd dare?"

"That…doesmake sense. Now that Youxi and I are this accomplished, girls probably don't eventhinkabout making a move on you… That's actually pretty smart—"

"What are you two whispering about? Leaving me out?"

Lin Youxi appeared out of nowhere, linking arms with Xia Yuan before patting Mei Fang's shoulder. "Did you miss me during class today?"

"Of course. Terribly."

Mei Fang glanced at Xia Yuan, who was watching him intently, and added, "Just as much as I missed Yuan Yuan."

"Tch. Skipping class just to daydream about us? Hold out your hand—I'm spanking it."

Lin Youxi put on a stern act, reaching for Mei Fang's palm, but Xia Yuan quickly intervened.

"Youxi, Ah Fang's a CEO now. He has an image to maintain. Not here—what if someone films it?"

"Wuwu… Yuan Yuan…"

Touched by his wife's protectiveness, Mei Fang moved in for a hug—only to be ruthlessly shoved away.

"If we're disciplining him, we should do it at home.Family rulesstyle."

Xia Yuan even mimed some…unusualgestures. Lin Youxi nodded sagely.

"Fair point. My oversight."

"I'm your childhood sweetheart, not yourbeast of burden, okay?!"

Mei Fang, Xia Yuan, and Lin Youxi headed to the university cafeteria together.

Though they occasionally drew stares from fellow students, the crowd here was generally more respectful—no one pestered them or disrupted their campus life.

Mei Fang queued up for food like everyone else. A few considerate students offered to let him cut in line, but he always declined. Eventually, people stopped making a fuss.

Mei Fang ordered roast meat rice, Lin Youxi went for braised chicken, and Xia Yuan chose a three-item combo. After grabbing their meals, Mei Fang also bought three bubble teas from the drink stall.

As they ate, Xia Yuan mused, "I used to think Jiangcheng Shiyi High's cafeteria was top-tier, but Pengda's is even better. Cheapanddelicious—just like off-campus restaurants."

"It's because they outsource to vendors and subsidize the costs. That's how it works."

The trio chatted idly until Mei Fang circled back to Xia Yuan's earlier conversation.

"You said you were laughing at something with Bingbing and Xiaoyu. What happened?"

"Remember how Xiaoyu was learning drums over summer break? During club recruitment, they both joined the university arts troupe. Xiaoyu sent a video of Bingbing playing drums—she's gottenreallygood!"

Mei Fang and Lin Youxi leaned in to watch. In the clip, Xiang Bingbing—now with long hair tied in a side ponytail—was lost in the rhythm, nailing every beat.

"Whoa… Bingbing changed her hairstyle? Almost didn't recognize her."

"Right?Ibarely recognized her when we met at the start of term—the only time I've seen her since coming to Pengda."

"You met up without me?"

Lin Youxi stole a braised pork knuckle from Xia Yuan's plate as the latter stammered, "Th-that was during our busiest prep period for the launch! You two were buried at the office. Bingbing and Xiaoyu wanted to visit, so I just… kinda forgot to mention it."

"Speaking of which, it's been ages since we hung out with the old gang. Now that work's calmed down, wanna organize something?"

"Yes! Imissour group so much! Let's invite Xiaoyu, Bingbing, Xiao Yizi, and—"

"Zhang Ming! You forgot my bro!"

Mei Fang pondered. "We could try asking Guo Yun too. If she comes, I've got some work to discuss with her."

Xia Yuan immediately narrowed her eyes. "You're notusingYunyun for labor again, are you?"

"She's the lead artist for ourXimiluproject. It'swork."

"……"

Lin Youxi and Xia Yuan fixed him with identical scrutinizing glares.

"What? I can't invite Yunyun?"

"No.Too intimate."

"You didn't say anything when I invited Bingbing and Xiaoyu before."

"That's because youneverchat with them privately," Lin Youxi explained. "But you and Guo Yun message constantly for work. Who knows what else you talk about? Ofcoursewe'd get jealous."

"Exactly!"

"Fine. I'll make a 'Art Discussion' group chat and add you both. Then you can monitor our conversations. Happy?"

"That's… not necessary."

Lin Youxi waved a hand. "This is aboutyourself-awareness. No amount of supervision matters if you're not sincere. Besides—"

She dangled a piece of braised chicken teasingly in front of Mei Fang.

"—as long as we enforcefamily rulesthoroughly, Ah Fang won't haveenergyto fantasize about anyone else. Right, Ah Fang?"

Her suggestive tone sent a shiver down Mei Fang's spine. He managed a weak smile.

"Speaking of which… Don't you think things now are pretty much the same as before? How are we supposed to play this 'dating game' properly?"