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

Mei Fang picked up Xia Yuan, who had done a "simple" round of dressing up, and the two of them set off by car to have dinner at Uncle Mei Lixiong's house.

Mei Fang called in advance to inform his mother, Xiang Xiaoxia. After listening, Xiang Xiaoxia felt a bit surprised, but still welcomed Yuan Yuan's arrival.

This child… really doesn't treat our A-Fang like an outsider, huh?

Looks like there's still hope!

Actually, that night when they had discussed things to the extent of borrowing him togive birth to a child, even though Xiang Xiaoxia thought the plan might be feasible, she still felt a bit uncomfortable with it.

After all, that would mean her own child would become a sort of tool, as if Yuan Yuan and You Xi didn't have any actual feelings for Mei Fang.

Thinking about it that way, if he were to embrace both the palm and the back of the hand at once (two-timing), it wouldn't really be such an unacceptable thing anymore.

At least, as long as they didn't openly do that kind of thing, sentimentally and rationally, it should still be alright…

After the ancestral home of Uncle Mei Lixiong's family was torn down, they had moved into a newly-built resettlement home for demolition compensation. But they hadn't lived there long before Mei Yue already started making arrangements to buy a new large flat. The whole family's days were getting better and better, blazing forward with good fortune—completely different from the breakdown their daughter had in the previous life.

"Ah, you've come, Mei Fang. Come, come on in," Auntie Tan Xiu quickly came bustling out, enthusiastically inviting Mei Fang inside.

"Do I need to change my shoes?"

"No need, just come on in directly."

"Mm… Hello Uncle, Auntie! Do you still remember me?"

From behind Mei Fang sprang out the beautiful young girl Xia Yuan, smiling brightly as she greeted the two elders. Uncle Mei Lixiong quickly waved them in and said:

"Aiya ya, this must be Yuan Yuan, right? We met before when we came to Baimei County. I remember you were Mei Fang's girlfriend back then—"

Tan Xiu, who had heard from Xiang Xiaoxia about Mei Fang's relationship history, quickly tugged at Mei Lixiong and furrowed her brows, shaking her head as a reminder. Mei Fang also promptly looped his arm through Xia Yuan's and smoothed things over:

"It's fine, it's fine. You can just consider us still boyfriend and girlfriend."

Xia Yuan, with her arm held by herex-boyfriendMei Fang, didn't seem to mind at all. Instead, she giggled and smiled at Uncle and Auntie, "Auntie, is Yueyue-jie at home right now?"

"She's still sleeping. Speaking ofher, she's really driving me, her mother, crazy."

At the mention of her daughter, Auntie Tan Xiu's face immediately filled with worry. She pulled Mei Fang aside and said:

"Mei Fang, Auntie wants to talk to you… Our family is just an ordinary household. It wasn't easy for someone like your dad, and now you too, to achieve something—our whole family is proud. But as for money, as long as it's enough, that's good enough. A career is important, but so is having a family. Don't you think so?"

"Yes… yes, Auntie, you're absolutely right!"

"Take your Yueyue-jie for instance. These days, she's only focused on her career and doesn't care about the family at all. So many people are lining up to propose matches, and yet our Yueyue won't even give them a look. Look at her, a girl nearly thirty, and still no partner. Tell me, isn't that something to worry about… Your company has hundreds of people now, right? What about your cousin sister in the company… isn't there anyone she has a bit of a thing for?"

"Um…" Mei Fang scratched his head. After rescuing Yueyue-jie, he hadn't really been following up on her love life. "This kind of thing is better left to fate. Yueyue-jie has to like the person herself. She probably won't listen even if you talk to her."

"She doesn't listen to us, but she'll listen to you. You two were so close when you were kids. Plus, you're her boss. If you talk to her more, she definitely—"

"Mom, what are you going on about over there? So annoying!"

At that moment, Mei Yue walked out, her hair in a bun and a facial mask slapped on her face. She was only wearing cartoon-print pajamas and looked totally casual and nonchalant. Auntie Tan Xiu was strongly dissatisfied:

"Look at you, almost 30 already, and you still don't care about your image. Go wash your hair already. Look at Yuan Yuan, all prettied up, just like a celebrity."

"We're all family. What's there to care about image for?"

Mei Yue said while grabbing Xia Yuan's hand, "Also, let me formally remind you, dear mother, that this classmate Xia Yuan here is currently one of the most popular idol singers and internet streamers. Calling her a celebrity is totally accurate."

"Then look at yourself, how do you compare?"

"Forget it… not gonna argue. Come on, Yuan Yuan, sit. What do you two want to drink? I'll get it for you."

"No need, no need, I'll just pour myself some hot water."

Obedient little Yuan Bao didn't want to cause trouble for her cousin sister.

"Alright then, I'm off to wash my hair. My mom's always pressuring me. It's so damn annoying."

"Same here, same here. All families are like that."

Actually, Mei Yue was only five years older than Mei Fang, around 26 this year—prime time for finding a partner. But right now, she was totally absorbed in her career, with no intention of dating at all. If she started dating now, in two years it would be time to talk marriage. Of course her family was anxious.

After Mei Yue got up and left, Xia Yuan leaned closer to Mei Fang and whispered, "Yueyue-jie's under a lot of pressure at home, huh. They really push this hard just because she doesn't have a partner? I really don't get it… if living alone makes you happy, isn't that fine too?"

"Really?"

Mei Fang said while flicking Xia Yuan's nose, "Then think carefully—back in the year when I publicly announced my relationship with Youxi, just how sad were you?"

"Sad? W-what sadness? I wasn't sad at all… Just put on an act outside, but in private wasn't it still—"

Suddenly, a scene flashed through Xia Yuan's mind: back at school, watching helplessly as You Xi and A-Fang cuddled up sweetly. A wave of sourness welled up in her chest. She immediately balled her fists and lightly punched Mei Fang in the chest: "You're the worst! Why are you bringing up my painful memories?!"

"What do you mean painful! That was barely the beginning!"

Mei Fang sighed. He really had protected Yuan Yuan too well. She couldn't even handle this tiny bit of heartache without getting all pouty.

Before long, Mei Lijun and Xiang Xiaoxia arrived at Uncle's house, bringing Mei Ya along. Xiang Xiaoxia went into the kitchen to help out, Mei Lijun chatted with his big brother, and Mei Ya immediately dove into Yuan Yuan-jie's arms upon arrival.

"Yuan Yuan-jie!"

After some hugging and snuggling, Mei Ya looked up at Xia Yuan with wide-eyed admiration.

"What is it?"

Mei Ya leaned over and whispered something to Xia Yuan, making her cover her face with both hands, squirming in embarrassment.

Mei Fang, watching his wife act so bashful, got curious and asked his sister: "What did you say to Yuan Yuan?"

"I said, Yuan Yuan-jie's already coming to eat with our relatives, she totally looks like the young daughter-in-law of the Mei family now!"

"Hey hey hey! What young daughter-in-law—show some respect! Who told you to say that?"

As he spoke, Mei Fang gave his sister Mei Ya a hard flick on the head. "What should you be calling her?"

"Call…sao sao?Yuan Yuan-sao,Sao-sao Yuan?"

(TL: sao sao = sister in law)

"Mm… never mind, forget it. That just sounds awful."

Mei Fang had barely finished scolding Mei Ya when he got scolded himself by Xia Yuan: "What do you mean awful? You think my name sounds bad or you just don't want to hear Xiao Ya call mesao sao? What's your problem? You itching for a beating?"

"Ah no, it's just… doesn't it sound kind of old-fashioned—"

The two of them were whisper-quarreling and bickering playfully when Mei Lijun walked up grandly. The two lovebirds immediately fell silent, each fiddling with their own things.

Mei Lijun then sat down next to his son, glancing at the beautifully-dressed Xia Yuan beside him, and couldn't help but feel a surge of pride.

"Yuan Yuan, you look really beautiful today."

"Hehe, thank you Uncle Mei for the compliment!"

"Later at dinner, don't feel shy—just treat this like your own home, okay?"

"Mm-hm!"

Mei Yue came out with her hair washed and dried, greeting Mei Lijun, "Hi, Second Uncle."

"Hey, Yue Yue."

Mei Lijun nodded and said, "Yue Yue, just woke up? Still in pajamas?"

"Well it's New Year's holiday. I'm enjoying my time off at home. No big deal."

"But you're not that young anymore—you really should start paying attention—"

"Uncle, you have no idea how hard I've been working. I've been busting my butt for our cousin all year long, working overtime late into the night every day. Not like Xiao Fang, always out there either flirting or playing around, living it up—"

"Flirting?"

"Totally. Look at how clingy Yuan Yuan and Youxi are with him…"

Mei Lijun thought:Seems like this cousin sister is one version behind… she doesn't know the current situation at all—

"Don't you think you should at least dress up a little for dinner? Sitting down like this doesn't look great."

"What's the big deal, there's no outsiders here."

Mei Yue smiled and said, "Do you consider Yuan Yuan an outsider?"

"Wha—I didn't say that!" Mei Lijun quickly waved his hands, and Mei Yue smiled again, "Well, then there's your answer."

As everyone was talking, Xia Yuan's phone suddenly rang.

She picked up the call, "Hello, Dad?"

"What is it?"

"Mom went to Teacher Zhang's for a dinner party. Me? I… I'm eating at A-Fang's uncle's house."

"What, I can't go?"

Xia Yuan glanced at Mei Fang, then smiled at him, "Don't worry about me. You go find your own place to eat."

"Hey, Yuan Yuan, it's New Year's. Don't say stuff like that."

Mei Lijun called out beside her, "If Lao Xia has nowhere to eat, just invite him over. More people, more lively."

Obviously, Xia Xun heard Mei Lijun's invitation on the other end of the line. Xia Yuan hesitated a moment while holding the phone.

"Then… do you want to come?"

"Mm, okay."

After hanging up, Mei Yue immediately looked nervous and asked, "Yuan Yuan, your dad is coming over for dinner too?"

"Ah… yeah. Why?"

"In that case, I-I need to go fix up my hair and makeup."

Watching Mei Yue rush to her room, Xia Yuan pouted unhappily and said, "Yue Yue-jie is treating my dad like an outsider."

"Well heisan outsider… what else would he be?"

"Hmm, true I guess…"

Mei Fang sighed again, "If it's just treating him like an outsider, that'd be fine…"

"What do you meanjust? What else could it be?"

"Just afraid… your Yue Yue-jiedoesn'twant to treat your dad like an outsider."

"Huh?"

Xia Yuan was still confused on the side, but Mei Ya's jaw had already dropped in shock. She clutched at Mei Fang's sleeve and tugged repeatedly:

"Bro… is this melon ripe or what?!"