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

The house party was winding down the next morning, with less than half the group awake. When Xiang Bingbing, Yue Xinyi, and Guo Yun came downstairs, Lin Youxi was already preparing breakfast.

"Morning."

"Youxi's up so early," Guo Yun smiled. "Need help with breakfast?"

"No need, I'm almost done. I considered waking you earlier but thought you might want to sleep in."

Today's menu was ham-and-egg crepes with milk. Xiang Bingbing sniffed the aroma and sidled up to Lin Youxi. "Mmm… Youxi, your cooking is amazing! I'm so jealous of Ah Fang."

"I don't cook daily. Sometimes Ah Fang makes breakfast for us."

"Speaking of which, where are Mei Fang and YuanYuan?" Yue Xinyi asked.

Lin Youxi replied casually, "They had too much fun last night and are exhausted."

"True… Watching Mei Fang struggle in the pool was hilarious."

"Morning… You're all up already?"

"It's almost 10 AM," Yue Xinyi crossed her arms. "Did you stay up late on your phone? Couldn't wake you at all."

"Ah… yeah, sort of. Got caught up in a movie…"

Liu Xiaoyu tugged at her hair. When her gaze accidentally met Lin Youxi's, she quickly looked away. "Um… need help with breakfast?"

"All set. Let's eat."

The girls enjoyed the meal together. Noticing two portions remained, Xiang Bingbing reached for them but got her hand slapped by Lin Youxi.

"These are for Ah Fang and YuanYuan. No more for you."

"But they're not even awake yet—"

"Bingbing," Lin Youxi smiled with narrowed eyes, "I'll only say this once—no."

The chilling smile made Xiang Bingbing withdraw immediately.

Around 10:15, Xia Yuan and Mei Fang finally descended, with Mei Fang supporting Xia Yuan's limping gait. Everyone stared as she gingerly sat down—except Liu Xiaoyu, who buried herself in her phone.

"YuanYuan, what happened? Did you fall?"

"L-leg cramp last night from the cold."

"Did you stretch it out?" Guo Yun asked seriously. "Otherwise it'll keep hurting."

"Y-yeah, that's why it's still…"

Xia Yuan winced even while sitting. Lin Youxi brought her breakfast with exaggerated formality.

"For Miss YuanYuan. Enjoy."

"What's with the weird title…"

Xia Yuan started to protest but faltered under Lin Youxi's meaningful gaze, opting to stuff her face instead.

Mei Fang ate normally, amused by Xiang Bingbing's drooling stare.

"Didn't you already eat? Want some of mine?"

As he offered, Yue Xinyi intercepted. "She's full. Eat what Youxi made you—unless you want scolding?"

"Youxi's not that petty, right?" Mei Fang grinned.

Lin Youxi smiled sweetly. "Actually, I am. I specially saved these for you two. Trying to share means you dislike my cooking?"

"N-no! Of course not!"

Something felt off about Lin Youxi's tone today, but Mei Fang dismissed it and quickly finished the meal. Then he remembered:

"Wait, what about Zhang Ming—"

Speak of the devil, Zhang Ming hobbled in on slippers. "Uh… any food left—"

"Oops, forgot to save you a portion. Sorry." Lin Youxi's apology was ice-cold.

"No worries. Any bread or crackers?"

"Got some cookies from yesterday in the fridge…" Liu Xiaoyu fetched snacks for Zhang Ming as the group ate lazily, yawning from last night's festivities.

Meanwhile, Mei Fang discussed Yuan Xia Music's future with Xia Yuan:

"With our current product matrix, Yuan Xia Music can't just release your songs forever. We need expansion—otherwise the pressure's all on you, and the label revolves around your availability."

"I agree."

Xia Yuan pondered. "Is that why you had me listen in on your game talk with Yunyun? Want me to start composing like withJourney of Clouds?"

"Not as the lead this time—you have your own music." Mei Fang turned to Liu Xiaoyu. "Xiaoyu, could you take charge?"

Having self-studied accompaniment with Xia Yuan in high school and contributed to her debut album andJourney of Clouds' OST, Liu Xiaoyu was the natural choice—though always as an assistant.

The sudden promotion surprised her. "Game scoring? What… kind of project?"

"I'll send details later. No rush—we're waiting on Guo Yun's concept art first."

Guo Yun hastily added, "I'll try my best… but it'll take at least a month."

"Try playing some Souls-like games for reference," Mei Fang suggested. "If you're not used to gaming, watch playthroughs. Or come to my place to experience them—preferably when YuanYuan or Youxi are home, for propriety."

"I… I'll try. But I might not do well…"

"That's okay! Just do your best." Xia Yuan beamed. "Ah Fang criticized me constantly at first too, butJourney of Clouds' OST still sold nearly 10% of the game's copies! Great for digital merch."

"Don't pressure her with benchmarks." Mei Fang bonked Xia Yuan's head before addressing Liu Xiaoyu:

"As Yuanxi Entertainment commercializes, Yuan Xia Music must expand too. Beyond YuanYuan's work, I hope to entrust more to you."

He then turned to Xiang Bingbing. "And eventually Bingbing and Peng Xue. You were all in YuanYuan's band—yet never got to perform."

The usually confident Xiang Bingbing grew shy. "YuanYuan's a national star now, and Xiaoyu's helped since high school. I'm just a drumming novice."

"Experience matters less than talent and synergy. You're great at drums," Liu Xiaoyu reassured. "Though Xue'er's already a famous folk singer now. We do need to catch up."

"Can I help with the game music? I'm really interested!" Xiang Bingbing declared. "In high school I dabbled in photography, basketball… never committed deeply. But now I want to seriously try—"

"Ask me anything about game scoring!" Xia Yuan thumped her chest proudly. "I'm a renowned indie game composer's mentor now, after all!"

"Look at you, all high and mighty…" Mei Fang ruffled her hair affectionately, their intimacy sparking Yue Xinyi's curiosity.

When departing, Mei Fang offered to escort Guo Yun to the station, splitting the group. Yue Xinyi, Xiang Bingbing, Zhang Ming, and Liu Xiaoyu shared a car, where Yue Xinyi voiced her confusion:

"Don't you think… despite breaking up, Mei Fang and Lin Youxi still act super close?"

Silence.

Liu Xiaoyu and Xiang Bingbing hesitated, unsure if Zhang Ming knew their three-way relationship secret. Zhang Ming maintained a poker face while internally cackling.

"Ahem… normal for childhood friends, no? You know how they are."

I know, but…

Youxi said they still 'play around' post-breakup. Fine for her, but why's YuanYuan also…? And that master bedroom only had one bed—

"Pfft."

"Why are you laughing?"

Zhang Ming shook his head. "Nothing."

Yue Xinyi punched his arm. "Tell me!"

With the driver potentially eavesdropping, Zhang Ming texted Yue Xinyi the full story instead.

"Holy… for real?!" Yue Xinyi's world tilted.

"Ask them." Zhang Ming gestured to Xiang Bingbing and Liu Xiaoyu.

"You knew?!"

"Zhang Ming! You weren't supposed to blab!" Xiang Bingbing hissed.

"Ah Fang told me to inform her—see our chat logs." Zhang Ming showed his messages with Mei Fang as proof.

Yue Xinyi numbly faced the girls. "So… you both knew?"

After exchanging glances, they nodded reluctantly.

"During the Shennongjia trip," Xiang Bingbing admitted. "It was obvious then. You missed it."

"And you, Xiaoyu? When?"

"This…" Liu Xiaoyu hesitated. "I knew since sophomore year."

"They started that early?!"

"Details… are hard to explain." Liu Xiaoyu shook her head. "I accidentally saw something… that's how I found out."

"Damn, you're a vault! Who knew you carried such secrets?"

Xiang Bingbing declared, "I'm telling you all my secrets from now on!"

"Please don't." Liu Xiaoyu sighed. "I'm exhausted from secret-keeping."

"That sounds loaded… What else do you know?"

"If it's a secret—"

Liu Xiaoyu pushed away the curious Xiang Bingbing. "Keep yours to yourself."

"But sharing feels so good!"

Xiang Bingbing smiled. "Like when I confessed to Ah Fang in the car, remember?"

"Wait—you WHAT?!"

Yue Xinyi and Zhang Ming gawked. "You actually confessed?!"

"Sorta… Youxi coaxed it out of me. I do like Ah Fang."

"And then?"

"Then… I forgot." Xiang Bingbing nudged Liu Xiaoyu. "What was his reaction again?"

"Do you really want me to say? It's a rejection scene."

"I genuinely forgot. Tell everyone."

"Well…"

Liu Xiaoyu paused. "He said he was a two-timing scumbag and told her to learn from Youxi and YuanYuan's example."

"Right, right! That's what he said."

"Classic Mei Fang."

Xiang Bingbing nodded, then exhaled deeply.

"But look how happy they are together. Choosing just one would've hurt someone terribly—whether picked or abandoned."

Zhang Ming agreed. "They've been inseparable since childhood. This makes sense for them."

"Still shocking, but logical for those three."

Yue Xinyi sighed. "I just feel… complicated."

"Why? Thinking 'if two's possible, why not three'?"

"Fuck off! I'm just mad I was the last to know! Youxi really didn't trust me…"

As Yue Xinyi bickered with Zhang Ming, Xiang Bingbing and Liu Xiaoyu fell into thoughtful silence, their expressions unreadable.