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

(TL: Sorry yall I've just been busy 😦 updates will probably continue to be sporadic)

The winter air bit sharply as Mei Fang and Xia Yuan exited Bai Mei No.1 High, their breaths forming misty clouds in the crisp morning sunlight. Across the street, a boy no older than twelve stood rigidly beside Mei Fang's luxury SUV, his battered bicycle leaning precariously against the curb, its front basket crumpled like discarded tinfoil.

As they approached, the boy bowed deeply, his voice trembling with the weight of impending doom:

"E-excuse me… is this your car?"

Xia Yuan tilted her head curiously until the boy stepped aside, revealing a jagged scar of exposed metal where his bike had gouged the driver's side door.

"I fell on the icy road and… I'm so sorry!"The boy's chapped fingers clenched around his bleeding palm."I'll pay for the repairs—just please don't tell my mom! She's sick and—"

"Don't worry about it,"Mei Fang interrupted gently, ruffling the boy's wind-chapped hair."This little scratch? Barely noticeable."

"R-really?"The boy's shoulders sagged with relief before tensing again."But luxury cars cost so much to—"

"Look at your hand!"Xia Yuan gasped, seizing his wrist to examine the deep gash."You've been bleeding this whole time? We're taking you to the clinic!"

"Wait… you attended Experimental Elementary too?"Xia Yuan clapped excitedly when learning his school."We're alumni! This grumpy brother here was top three in our grade!"

"So cool!"Xiaolong's eyes shone before dimming."I'll study hard to buy mom medicine… and help big sister with tuition…"

The clinic visit unfolded with heartbreaking familiarity—the boy panicking at the mention of a 100 RMB tetanus shot, Mei Fang quietly covering the bill, and Xiaolong insisting on calling his mother despite fearing her reaction.

When the gaunt woman arrived—her chemotherapy-bald head hidden beneath a woolen cap, her threadbare coat hanging loose on skeletal shoulders—she immediately began bowing and scraping, pressing crumpled bills into Mei Fang's hands despite their refusal.

"If there's any problem with the car, please call!"She scribbled a number on a scrap of paper with shaking hands."We may be poor but we pay our debts!"

Only after repeated assurances did she finally leave, one arm wrapped protectively around her son as they vanished into the maze of alleyways.

Xia Yuan stood frozen long after they'd gone, her fingers tightening around Mei Fang's sleeve.

"A-Fang… that mom's illness…"

"The hair loss suggests chemotherapy,"Mei Fang murmured."Probably cancer."

"We can't just walk away!"Xia Yuan's eyes glistened."They're clearly struggling… What if we—"

"Did you see how she forced that money into my hand?"Mei Fang tapped Xia Yuan's forehead."Direct charity would humiliate them. I'll text later saying we're available if they ever need help—that preserves dignity while leaving a lifeline."

Xia Yuan buried her face in his chest."You always know what to do… Reward time!"

Their tender moment was interrupted by Lin Youxi's call about house-hunting. By the time they reached Zijun Garden's sales center, Lin Youxi had already zeroed in on a duplex penthouse.

"The layout mirrors Yuan-yuan's family's new place,"she explained, blueprints spread across the model unit's marble counter."Since we lack relatives visiting, it'll be quieter for you two when—"

"You could just stay at my house!"Xia Yuan interjected.

"Your home's always packed with relatives during holidays,"Lin Youxi said with an edge Mei Fang recognized instantly—the razor-sharp bitterness of childhood deprivation."Not all of us have big happy families."

Lin Guochan attempted damage control:"Now now, we do have some relatives—"

"Like who?"Lin Youxi's voice dropped to subzero temperatures."Uncle Two who called us 'beggars' when we borrowed rice? Auntie Four who said Mom deserved to die young for marrying you? Or maybe the glorious maternal uncle who gambled away our apartment?"

The sales office fell silent as Lin Youxi's outburst laid bare decades of festering wounds. When Xia Yuan reached out in comfort, Lin Youxi recoiled violently.

"Don't pretend to understand!"She stormed out before anyone could react, leaving Liang Meijuan wringing her hands and Lin Guochan staring at his worn shoes.

Mei Fang caught up to Lin Youxi three blocks away, her rigid posture softening only marginally at his approach. They walked in tense silence until reaching the frozen-over riverbank where they'd played as children.

"You know…"Mei Fang broke the ice by skimming a stone across the icy surface."That kid today—his mom's probably dying. Yet she made sure we took her last 83 RMB."

Lin Youxi's shoulders trembled almost imperceptibly.

"Some scars never fade,"he continued gently."But holding onto rage toward your dad… it's like drinking poison and waiting for him to die."

A single tear traced Lin Youxi's cheek before freezing in the winter air.

"He wants me to seehim." The unspoken 'maternal uncle' hung between them like a guillotine."After everything that parasite did to us!"

Mei Fang enfolded her gloved hands in his own."Then tell your father why you can't. Scream it if needed. But don't shut him out when he's finally trying to protect you—in his clumsy way."

The dam broke. Lin Youxi's fists pounded against Mei Fang's chest as decades of pent-up anguish poured forth—the childhood humiliations, the maternal uncle's betrayals, the crushing weight of being the "poor relation." Mei Fang weathered the storm without flinching, anchoring her until the tempest passed.

When her tears finally subsided, Lin Youxi examined her reflection in the icy river."I became everything they said I'd never be… so why does it still hurt?"

"Because,"Mei Fang kissed her frozen tears,"you're finally safe enough to feel it."